In commemoration of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC) is unveiling a set of tools and resources created specifically to help Black churches spark discussions about HIV/AIDS in their communities and with their congregants.
“By harnessing the power of the Black Church, we can reach community members who might not otherwise be willing or adequately equipped to talk about HIV/AIDS,” said Rev. Doris Green, AFC’s Director of Correctional Health and Community Affairs. “People of faith want to be involved and can make a world of difference. These tools can help more Black churches get involved.”
The includes a training manual to help churches form HIV/AIDS ministries, factsheets about HIV/AIDS, and tips on how to combat HIV-related stigma.
For example, a novel brochure, entitled “Is It Possible to Be Gay and Christian?,” directly addresses the barriers to effective HIV education and outreach created by homophobia.
“A huge challenge addressing HIV/AIDS in some Black churches is the silence and discrimination aimed at gay and bisexual men,” said Rev. Charles Straight, AFC Board Member and Assistant Pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church. “To effectively address HIV/AIDS in the Black community requires us to support and embrace men who have sex with men with accurate information, compassion, and a ministry of love—as inclusive as we embrace all others.”
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