A 48% Increase In HIV Among Black MSM -- Does Anyone Give a Damn?

Nearly two weeks have passed since the CDC released the data showing that HIV rates increased by almost 50 percent among young Black gay and bisexual men between 2006 and 2009. But the announcement has been followed by a deafening silence. Why aren't the alarms being sounded?

Now that we actually have the tools to end the epidemic it's time to start dealing with real issues and creating real solutions, whether we're talking about the government, foundations, corporations or other entities and organizations. In the Black community in particular, it's time for us to have a serious conversation about whether anybody even gives a damn and what we need to do to bring HIV/AIDS to an end.

That brings us to the contents of this issue of the Black AIDS Weekly. Last week the New York Times ran a "Room for Debate" discussion on this issue titled "How to Close the Race Gap in HIV?" We are reprinting the piece, which consists of opinions from several contributors, including myself, all weighing in, in its entirety in an effort to spark a vigorous and meaningful discussion about what Black people in general and Black gay and bisexual men, in particular, need to do to save our own lives.

Yours in the struggle,

Phill