The third of five community town-hall meetings that Howard Brown Health Center ( HBHC ) will host this spring will focus on the health needs of Chicago's aging LGBTQ community.
We welcome the participation of gay, bisexual, and queer ( GBQ ) men of all colors and ages interested in discussing the concerns and health needs of the community. The third Town Hall will be hosted by CEO David Ernesto Munar, staff Physician Alfred Torrence, MD, and
Serette B. King, Manager of Outreach Services, on Monday, June 2, 6-7:30 p.m., at the Brown Elephant Resale Store, 3651 N. Halsted St.
HBHC is hosting these meetings as a part of our community needs assessment conducted every five years. The purpose of this assessment is to better understand the LGBTQ community's unique health needs and concerns. The information gathered from this community town-hall meeting will be used to plan future changes to services and programs, and will be shared with the larger community.
For decades GBQ men of color have face huge disparities with access to high quality health care, insurance coverage, finding culturally competent healthcare providers, and accessing appropriate educational information regarding HIV and STIs, including information on new and exciting treatment and prevention options.
Due to the disparities mentioned above, GBQ men of color remain overrepresented in new diagnoses of the human immunodeficiency virus ( HIV ) and other sexually transmitted infections ( STIs ).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) reported that in 2010, gay and bisexual men accounted for 63% of estimated new HIV infections in the United States and 78% of all newly infected men. From 2008 to 2010, new HIV infections increased 22% among young ( aged 13-24 ) gay and bisexual men and 12% among gay and bisexual men overall. Among all gay and bisexual men, black/African American gay and bisexual men accounted for 10,600 ( 36% ) estimated new HIV infections in 2010. The largest portion of new infections among black/African American gay and bisexual men ( 4,800; 45% ) occurred in those aged 13 to 24. From 2008 to 2010 new infections increased 20% among young black/African American gay and bisexual men aged 13 to 24. Among all gay and bisexual men, Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men accounted for 6,700 ( 22% ) estimated new HIV infections in 2010. The largest number of new infections among Hispanic/Latino gay and bisexual men ( 3,300; 39% ) occurred in those aged 25 to 34. Due in part to the ongoing health challenges gay, bisexual, and queer men face, rates of attempted suicide, homelessness, and tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use remain disproportionately high. Older gay men face additional barriers to health because of isolation and lack of supportive services.
The barriers of social stigma and widespread disparities are significant, but not insurmountable. The GBQ community, public health officials, and medical providers will need to work together to effectively disseminate information around primary care, combating HIV/STI's in community settings, PrEP, and tobacco, alcohol, and drug harm reduction. Building on the history of heroic work to fight HIV/AIDS, our communities are now tasked with coming together expand GBQ men's healthcare in and out of clinical settings.
We are eager to hear your stories, and we encourage you to join us in person or via Twitter using hashtag #HBHCTownHalls .
Serette B. King is Manager of Outreach Services at Howard Brown Health Center.
