“One Of These Things Aint Like The Other: Exploring the HIV prevention needs of Young Adult Black Same Gender Loving Men”

Preface

The ‘One of these things ain’t like the other: Exploring the HIV prevention needs of Young Adult Black Same Gender Loving Men’ report is a community-driven initiative from Young Adult Black Same Gender Loving (SGL) men to aid service providers to better understand and respond to our HIV prevention needs. Throughout this report, we use the culturally affirming term “Same Gender Loving (SGL)” coined by Dr. Cleo Manago to describe Black men with same gender attractions and sexual behaviors1. Here we use the term interchangeably with ‘Gay’ and is to be understood as such. The interplay of systemic, structural, and individual factors have been known to produce circumstances which more easily facilitate HIV transmission. Anti-Black racism coupled with homophobia, heterosexism, and HIV stigma limit Black SGL men’s access to the tools and resources that promote and sustain optimal sexual health. Despite this knowledge, oftentimes HIV prevention work within Black SGL communities focuses on rates of transmission without acknowledging the systemic context in which transmission occurs. In an effort to rectify the current state of HIV prevention work within Black SGL communities, we consulted with a small but mighty group of young Black SGL men. In conversation with these men, we gathered insights on the necessary changes needed to ensure HIV prevention strategies and programming are relevant and useful to young Black SGL men. This report provides learnings and recommendations to service providers and organizations on how to develop and improve HIV prevention strategies and programming in a way that honors the fullness of young Black SGL men.