The CDC'S New National MSM HIV Campaign Neglects Black Men

When President Barack Obama announced his National HIV/AIDS Strategy in 2010, he promised "bold" actions toward a vision that would make the U.S. a place where new HIV infections were rare in every American community, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, or sexual orientation and gender identity. The president's commitment was a direct challenge to the silences, stigmas and discriminations familiar to gay and bisexual men, transgender individuals and MSMs, who are disproportionately burdened by HIV and AIDS.

In This Issue

I hope you had a fantastic Fourth of July weekend.

We begin this week's issue with a look at the work of the Black Treatment Advocates Network in my hometown, Chicago, where Evany Turk, a prevention and outreach counselor for the University of Chicago, received science, treatment and mobilization training and has used that education not only to help advocate for comprehensive sex education in Chicago Public Schools, but to support young people, as well.

How College Wrestling Star "Tiger Mandingo" Became An HIV Scapegoat "Everyone wanted a piece of him, until he had HIV."

ST. CHARLES, Mo. — In January 2013, a white male college student in Missouri noticed a profile on a gay mobile hookup app for a black guy with ripped abs and a chiseled chest with the username "Tiger Mandingo."

Proposal To Add Skimpier 'Copper' Plans To Marketplace Raises Concerns

If you offer it, will they come? Insurers and some U.S. senators have proposed offering cheaper, skimpier "copper" plans on the health insurance marketplaces to encourage uninsured stragglers to buy. But consumer advocates and some policy experts say that focusing on reducing costs on the front end exposes consumers to unacceptably high out-of-pocket costs if they get sick. The trade-off, they say, may not be worth it.

HHS Announces Auto-Enrollment Plans for Current Marketplace Consumers for 2015

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has announced its plans for helping existing Marketplace consumers get auto-enrolled for next year. These plans would give existing consumers a simple way to remain in the same plan next year unless they want to shop for another plan and choose to make changes.