that black men have to face
When Tiffany Lyons [not her real name] started dating, her intentions were to enjoy her youth and ride the wave of life which seems to sweep all teenagers up in the moment. At that time, Lyons met a drug dealer who infatuated her in many ways, she said.
“The DL Chronicles,” is a televison series that focused on the hidden lives of gay black men. (Photo provided by flickr.com) “I was a kid, and I cared about him, but it was just a time in my life I want to leave in the past,” Lyons said.
After two years, the relationship ended and shortly thereafter Lyons was diagnosed with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
“I was confused because there was nothing about him that showed signs that he was having sex with a man,” Lyons said. “I don’t even know when it would have taken place. I was with him every day and if it wasn’t every day then it was every other day.”
Lyons is one of many black women who have contracted HIV from black men who do not disclose their sexual preferences and stay on what is commonly referred to as the “DL” (down low).
According to the Centers for Disease Control, which provides the public with reliable health information, in 2000, blacks make up approximately 13 percent of the population infected with HIV/AIDS. However, in 2005, blacks accounted for 49 percent of the estimated 37,331 new HIV/AIDS diagnoses in the United States in the 33 states where long-term, confidential name-based HIV reporting occurs.
Of all black men living with HIV/AIDS, the primary transmission category was reported to be sexual contact with other men, followed by injection drug use and high-risk heterosexual contact. Consequently, for all black women living with HIV/AIDS, the primary transmission category was high-risk heterosexual contact, followed by injection drug use.
“Black, gay or bi-sexual men operating on the DL is becoming more prevalent,” says the CDC.
The CDC also reports that because of homophobia and the stigma of being gay, some black men identify themselves as being heterosexual instead of disclosing their sexual orientation.
Experts say that “coming out” or disclosing one’s sexual orientation is difficult for any person of any ethnic group.
The Human Rights Campaign, a civil rights organization, which published “The Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans,” states: “For many African Americans, coming out involves additional cultural factors that make the process more challenging but no less rewarding. These include having to deal with homophobic churches, strong family foundations that emphasize heterosexuality, homophobia in the black community and racism in the broader Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT) community.”
The Association of Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Issues in Counseling of Alabama (AGLBICAL), which promotes greater awareness and understanding of sexual minority issues, reports that churches have traditionally played a central role in guiding the day-to-day lives and beliefs of many black Americans.
However, the HRC also states that some churches and individual parishioners have been unwelcoming to people with a different sexual orientation or gender identity.
“The black church, the oldest institution and pillar of the black community, has historically dictated the community’s stance on homosexuality: either you don’t talk about it, or you condemn it,” writes Lynn D. Johnson, adjunct professor at Metropolitan College of New York in “The Resource Guide to Coming Out for African Americans.”
According to the AGLBICAL, the black family unit often functions as a haven and stronghold of support in a society where racism is still rampant.
The AGLBICAL also says that within the LGBT community, many of the same prejudices against race, class, and ethnicities are evident, which create unique challenges for black LGBT Americans trying to fit into the LGBT community.
The HRC also declares that many people believe that there is no place in the black community for a “weakness,” such as homosexuality.
The LGBT is fighting for black activists and their allies, and believe there is more support and acceptance than ever before, although there still exist many prejudices and roadblocks for LGBT blacks.
The Parents of Families and Friends of Lesbians, and Gays have formed a Families of Color Network, which, according to their mission, are: “striving to, addressing and working in unison to keep healthy families together based on love.”
The PFLAG are also looking to break down the barricades placed on African Americans because of issues of institutionalized racism, sexual orientation and gender identity within communities of color.
As for Lyons, she said she has left the mistakes of the past in the past. “You never know a person unless you ask questions.” Lyons said. “Closed mouths don’t get fed. If you don’t ask, why would that person tell.”
Now 23, Lyons works for a non–profit organization called the Circle of Care as a prevention outreach specialist and perinatal peer counselor dealing with conditions such as HIV, AIDS, lupus, cancer, etc. She said that her job affects many people dealing with these conditions, but this is where she needs to be to help and challenge people to make a change for the better.
“I work at a job that people don’t believe exist,” Lyons said. “I have a rewarding job that allows me to bless others as well as myself even though there isn’t a cure for the condition. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else but this, helping people in my community.”
Contact Ryan S. Williams at
communitarian@mail.dccc.edu
