The impact of HIV/AIDS on black gay and bisexual men cannot be ignored. That is why AIDS United invites all who work to end HIV/AIDS in the United States. As a part of its policy and advocacy mission, on February 3 2015 at 1 P.M. EST AIDS United is specifically bringing ally communities together to discuss the disproportionate impact HIV/AIDS has on black gay and bisexual men of color. According to AIDS United,
“Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men represent 2% of the United States population yet accounted for 63% of new HIV infections in 2010. Among this group, gay and bisexual men of color are even more disproportionately impacted. Young gay and bisexual black men accounted for twice as many new HIV infections as either white or young Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men.”
AIDS United’s We Shall Not Be Removed is a four-part Google Hangout session that discusses and calls for the mobilization of ally communities across the country to promote “social justice, racial equality, and a more just and equal society,” specifically among black gay and bisexual men. The series first exciting session will commemorate the birth of black gay filmmaker Marlon Riggs and his political work.
We Shall Not Be Removed will bring together leaders and visionaries such as Yolo Akili Robinson, Kenyon Farrow, Acquaris Gilmer, and Charles Stephens as panelists for the discussions beginning next week. Robinson is the capacity building assistance (CBA) trainer at AIDS United focusing on training through instructional design, e-learning and documentary platforms. As the current US and Global Health Policy Director for Treatment Action Group, an AIDS research think tank, Farrow is an award-winning writer and activist who will also be a panelist. Gilmer represents the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS as the Regional Affiliate Coordinator providing technical assistance to four of NBLCA’s national affiliates. The final panelist Charles Stephens is the Found of the Counter Narrative Project, an initiative that aids in amplifying the voices of black men.
To learn more about the exciting We Shall Not Be Removed or the event’s panelists, click here. Also, visit here for more information about GLAAD’s involvement with HIV/AIDS.