New York State Black Gay Network Demands Immediate Action

With new data proving HIV cases in young gay black men are up nearly 40%, New York State Black Gay Network demands immediate action on HIV prevention for Young Men who have Sex with Men (YMSM) of Color

HIV cases in young gay men in Harlem more than doubled from 2001- 2006 even as money diverted from community-based programs; Meteoric rise must be combated with testing access, research and housing as part of comprehensive efforts

New York, NY – The New York State Black Gay Network today decried new HIV surveillance data which shows a marked increase in HIV infections among young MSM. “While this may be news to some of our partners in government, these numbers confirm what those of us who work on the frontlines in the community have been saying all along: we are losing the battle to save our young black gay men” said Mark Jason McLaurin, Executive Director of the New York State Black Gay Network. “I’m sick and tired of attending meetings where the outcome of which is only a plan for more meetings. If this any other population and any other disease, this issue would be of the very highest priority.” added McLaurin.

“As a young black gay man working in the field, I have witnessed the devastation in my peer group first hand. Perhaps the only thing more disturbing than the seemingly endless array of funerals for people my age, is the ongoing temporizing about what to do about it” said the Network’s Anthony Morgan, Director of its Campaign for Black Gay Mens’ Lives.

The New York State Black Gay Network is demanding that the New York City and State governments work together with affected communities to put together a comprehensive and immediate plan to address this community’s needs. HIV risk does not occur in a vacuum, and neither can efforts to reduce it. The plan must include:

• increased surveillance and testing;
• a focus on behavioral research; and
• an aggressive housing initiative to address the shameful fact that many young black gay men live on our city’s streets.

Of special concern to the Network is the meteoric rise of cases among young black and Latino gay men in Central and East Harlem. The number of HIV cases in young gay men in Central and East Harlem more than doubled between 2001 and 2006. “If New York is the epicenter of the domestic HIV/AIDS epidemic, than surely Harlem represents the epicenter of the epicenter. It’s nothing less than appalling that Harlem-based providers have never gotten a fair chance at having resources anywhere near the scale needed to address this community’s needs Indeed, in recent years, support for organizations doing the work in this area has actually been diverted.” said McLaurin.