Study Finds Black Gay Males in US Hardest Hit by HIV-AIDS

A new report from the Black AIDS Institute - a national HIV-AIDS think tank that focuses on African Americans - contains grim findings.  Having served on the local Ryan White Committee, I am not shocked by the magnitude of the findings which reflect what has been witnessed in the Hampton Roads area: AIDS in America is becoming a black disease.  And the statistics are horrifying.  HIV-AIDS is affecting black gay men in the United States on a scale unseen among any other group in the developed world.  In some US cities, 50% of black men who have sex with other men are HIV positive.  HIV prevalence among such men is twice as high than among their white counterparts. They are also far less likely to be alive three years after being diagnosed with AIDS than white or Latino gays and bisexuals.  The report in PDF format can be found here.  Many of the reasons for the grim picture are not surprising: poverty, lack of access to health care, the attitude in many state governments - certainly in Virginia's - that those with HIV-AIDS are garbage to be disposed of so it doesn't matter if they die.  Indeed, one of the three worst cities for blacks with HIV-AIDS is Richmond, Virginia pictured above:

Richmond shares many characteristics of Gary and Memphis—below-average access to federal HIV grants, below-average Medicaid spending for HIV, and exclusion of single, childless adults from Medicaid. HIV-positive Black MSM in Richmond are further disadvantaged by the state’s ADAP. As of June 21, 2012, nearly 600 people living with HIV in Virginia had been placed on a waiting list for ADAP services. Indeed, Virginia alone accounted for 28% of all people nationwide on ADAP waiting lists in June 2012.

Some of the other grim findings:

Whereas more than two-thirds of new infections among white MSM occur in men in their 30s and 40s, a majority of newly infected Black MSM are ages 13-29.  Due to exceptionally high rates of new infections among young Black MSM, many Black MSM enter adulthood already infected with HIV.  Among 13-24-year-olds, Black men are nearly 14 times more likely to be diagnosed with HIV than white men, with MSM accounting for more than 90% of new diagnoses among young males. Although Black people account for a mere 9% of all MSM in the U.S., Blacks comprise more than 62% of new diagnoses among young MSM in 2008. Due to a surge in new infections among Black MSM, the disparity in HIV diagnosis rates among Black and white males increased by 257% from 2005 to 2008.

The report does a lot of assigning of blame.  Sadly, one leading problem goes largely unmentioned: the rampant homophobia in the black community and the role that black pastors play in keeping homophobia alive.  In one area of Norfolk several churches located in close proximity to some of the hardest hit areas continue to rant against gays and depict HIV-AIDS as Gods punishment to gays.  Indeed, some of these pastors can be relied upon to act like trained chimpanzees (yes, this is a harsh statement, but sadly accurate) at the direction of the lily white racist leaning leaders of The Family Foundation in Richmond.  The Family Foundation is the number one anti-gay hate organization in Virginia and an examination of its leadership demonstrates that most are the descendants of segregationist.   

It drives me to distraction to see these black pastors doing the bidding of those who would happily see blacks disappear from society or at least remain greatly subjugated.  The situation underscores why knowing accurate history and not being duped by the cynical use of religious belief to work against one's community's best interests is so critical.  These black pastors literally are doing the bidding of those who hate blacks almost as much as gays and they are too foolish to realize it.

Ann Romney's Condesencion Toward "You People"

The sense of entitlement and a mindset that the rules that apply to others don't apply to Mitt ans Ann Romney was underscored by an incredible stupid and arrogant statement made by Ann Romney in an interview where the subject of Mitt Romney's hidden tax returns came up.  Her response?    “We’ve given all you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and how we live our life,” Yep, that right, the disdain and contempt is evident.  "You people." That's how Ann Romney views the media and apparently the American voters at large.  I'd suggest that Mitt tell his wife to keep her mouth shut and focus on her ultra-expensive horse and the Olympics.   Either that or Ms. Romney changer her name to "Marie Antoinette" Romney.  Here are highlights from Politico on Ann Romney's haughty condescension and contempt for the "little people":

Ann Romney dismissed concerns about her husband’s tax returns Thursday, contending that the two of them have “given all you people need to know.”

“You know, you should really look at where Mitt has led his life, and where he’s been financially,” the potential first lady said on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” “He’s a very generous person. We give 10 percent of our income to our church every year. Do you think that is the kind of person who is trying to hide things, or do things? No. He is so good about it. Then, when he was governor of Massachusetts, didn’t take a salary for four years.”

“We’ve given all you people need to know and understand about our financial situation and how we live our life,” she added later.

Ann Romney may try to portray herself as an average "stay at home mom", but she's anything but that.  Shes a spoiled, rich, self-centered bitch who fritters away more on her horse than most families earn in a year's time.  She went on in the interview to talk about the lavish contributions she and her husband make to their church - conveniently ignoring the anti-gay bigotry, latent racism and other other forms of prejudice and discrimination that part and parcel with the Mormon Church.  The woman truly strikes me as a latter day version of Marie Antoinette, wife of King Louis XVI of France, although the comparison is probably an insult to Marie Antoinette.  

Remember Where Your Money Goes

In follow up to my earlier post about Chick Fil-A, the image above puts thing in a clear and simple perspective.  The groups that Chick Fil-A and the Cathy family have funded disseminate the hate and venom listed above.  I urge fair minded readers to boycott Chick Fil-A.  Better yet, urge your friends and families to do so as well.

Thursday Morning Male Beauty

Chick Fil-A President: Allowing Gay Marriage Invites God's Wrath on America

First Chick Fil-A's senior management admits that the company funds anti-gay organizations.  Now, Chick Fil-A President has gone further and engaged in a rant about gays and gay marriage inviting God to smite America.  And every single person who buys anything at Chick Fil-A is funding this kind of animus and bigotry.  Hence why I've boycotted this poisonous food chain for many years.  Patronizing Chick Fil-A is like a black patronizing a KKK owned business or someone of the Jewish faith supporting a Neo-Nazi owned business.  Here are some of Mr. Cathy's remarks and the comments of my blogger friend Jeremy Hooper at Good As You:

I really do think that the comments I unearthed yesterday are really worth heightened note, so I have no problem building on them. To remind you, this is what company president and COO Dan Cathy said about those of us who support marriage equality for same-sex couples (and about single parents):

"(1:05)…I think we are inviting God's judgment on our nation when we shake our fist at Him and say 'we know better than you as to what constitutes a marriage' and I pray God's mercy on our generation that has such a prideful, arrogant attitude to think that we have the audacity to define what marriage is about"

AUDIO SOURCE: Dan Cathy

Dan Cathy's comments are obviously disturbing, regardless of broader context. But when one considers the context in which they were delivered, these comments really do show us, without any shred of doubt, where a major American fast food chain places LGBT people, our lives, and our loves within the societal realm.

Here's what I mean. These latest comments came from a media appearance that Dan Cathy made just a few weeks back. These were not words that I had to dig up from some secretive source or haul out from the WayBack Machine—these were pointed comments delivered on a radio show after a two year period where this particular company has come under great scrutiny for its actions and contributions in regards to LGBT rights. Mr. Cathy is well aware of the controversy, and has even made disingenuous videos and issued responsibility-shirking press releases denying that the company holds such view. But now, as he tells Baptist Press, the President and COO seems to be taking a "guilty as charged" stance. He, the head spokesperson for this company, appears to have embraced defiance, which takes this whole thing to another level entirely.

What Chick-Fil-A is no longer free to do? Deny that there is animus for LGBT people within the top offices of the family that runs the whole operation. Dan Cathy looked a concerned customer base in the eye and doubled down on the idea that gays are "shaking a fist" at God. That is now a very public part of the company's DNA. Plausible deniability is completely off the table.