46 % is not acceptable:

Community Mobilization of

Black Gay Men to Address

the HIV Epidemic in the United States

A. Cornelius Baker, Washington, DC

Ernest Hopkins, San Francisco

www.nbgmac.org

XVII International AIDS Conference, Mexico City, 2008Mobilizing, Building the Capacity and Researching on Gay, Transgender and MSM Issues

* Since the early 1980’s, Black Gay Men have been disproportionately impacted by HIV

* A 2005 five-city study by the CDC reported 46% to be HIV positive. 67% were unaware of their status

* CDC revised estimate of HIV incidence (August 2008) reports significant burden of impact among African-Americans and gay men of all race/ethnicities

* Black gay/msm are caught in the cross-fire of these twin epidemics.

* Few resources dedicated at the Federal, State or local level in research, prevention or areas of care

Situation

Creation of the National Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition

• Community leaders met in facilitated discussion to forge new alliance, overcoming historic differences

• Formed coalition of community based organizations, advocates, scientists, health department officials and community leaders

• Membership based, Advocacy focused, NO FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FUNDS ACCEPTED!

Organizing a Response

The NBGMAC (National Black Gay Men's Advocacy Coalition) is committed to improving the health and well-being of Black Gay Men through advocacy that is focused on research, policy, education, and training.

Mission:

Accomplishments• Formation of executive committee and organizational structure,

systems of communication (monthly conference calls, etc.)• Development of policy agenda and ongoing dialogue with federal

officials• Organizing town hall meetings in 10 U.S. cities to gain community input• $1 Million Dollar Increase in Funding for Young Gay Men/Transgender

persons of Color Program Announcement• $500,000 Program Initiative to Develop SAMHSA Treatment

Improvement Protocol for LGBT of Color• Launch of HIV Prevention Trials Network Study on African-American

Gay Men’s Sexual Network and HIV Prevention/Partnership w/Black Gay Research Group to Develop Research Agenda to assure funding and community participation

• Invitation to CDC STD Disparities Task Force & HIV Division Social Marketing Planning Efforts

• Partnership with National Black Women’s HIV Network for Coordinated Advocacy

NBGMAC

Challenges and Next Steps• Membership is financial difficulty for many organizations• Local programmatic, capacity and advocacy needs are great• Creating new models of advocacy and organizational structure • Building sustainable coalition model – not dependent on federal

funding – and with volunteer, membership base* * *

• Improvements in coalition infrastructure, especially innovative vehicles of communications

• Expansion of policy staff• Sustaining and expansion of leadership/membership• Partnership with National Black Women’s HIV Network for

Coordinated Advocacy

NBGMAC

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Rudolph Carn, National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities, Inc., Chairman, Ernest Hopkins, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Vice Chair and Policy Committee Chair & Ron Simmons, Us Helping Us, People into Living, Inc, Treasurer

• Gary English, Anthony Fox, Terrance Moore, Roosevelt Mosby, Bongane Nyathi, Leo Rennie, Michael Roberson

• AIDS Action, National Minority AIDS Council, AIDS Institute, NASTAD, CHAMP, and NBGMAC individual members

• New York Community Trust, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS

• Black Gay Research Group

• The hundreds of black gay men who have voiced their perspectives at town hall meetings and other forums

• The government officials who have evidenced a commitment to partnership (Fenton, Cleveland, Cargill, Diffenbach, Bates, Watts-Davis)

• And to the estimated 2 million black gay men in the United States whose lives are to be valued, respected and to hold dignity

Acknowledgements