Condom

• But the medical achievements that have made those lives better and created longer life expectancies have not benefited all communities.
• In fact, some communities still have higher rates of new cases of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
• Black queer men are six times more likely to die as a result of HIV-related complications when compared with queer men of different races.
• Finally, data released in 2016 revealed that if the rates then of new HIV cases persisted, an estimated 1 in 2 Black queer men would acquire HIV in their lifetime.

The question of risky behavior

• The wide reach of HIV in the Black queer community is not due to members of that community having more sex, or using protection less, or having more partners than queer people of other racial or ethnic backgrounds.
• In fact, long-standing studies have shown that when Black queer men have access to appropriate health care, they use condoms more often, and test themselves for HIV more often, than queer men of other races.

• According to those studies, Black queer people have a higher risk of contracting HIV than those others because their communities are more tightly knit – despite behaving more safely than others.
• As a result of social stigma and discrimination, Black queer men are more likely to have sexual relationships within their own racial group.

A perfect storm of racism and homophobia

• But in order to receive PrEP, for instance, one must first locate a provider who is willing to prescribe the medicine.
• There are examples of doctors simply refusing to prescribe it out of fear of “increased promisciuty.” This sentiment is often rooted in racism and homophobia.
• Though HIV care and PrEP are broadly covered under the Affordable Care Act, that often means only the cost of the prescriptions.

Lowering the risks

• My research typically uses interviews of Black queer men to better understand how Black gay men experience and face structural barriers such as access to testing and adequate housing.
• Most men I interview are living with HIV and offer insights on their lived experiences and professional expertise with great vulnerability and power.
• Another man I interviewed lives in Los Angeles and pointed out that the younger generation has had limited education about the risks of Black gay life.

Deion Scott Hawkins does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.