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Gilmer raised the example of Republican Sen. Voting can turn many a politician's head if you work it right. Gilmer notes that voting shows how much people are paying attention to the issues and to policymakers, and that they are willing to make their voices heard. Voting is arguably the best way to show power in the U.S.
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Unfortunately, the bill died and hasn't been reintroduced as yet.Īccording to the webinar presenters, black gay men in the South can join forces with the likes of the Gay Men's Health Crisis and the Human Rights Campaign to push for this initiative to come to fruition.Īquarius Gilmer, the regional affiliate coordinator for the National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, presented on the importance of voting. It would also focus on pushing legislation and funding research that would help eliminate health disparities for LGBT people. This office would be tasked with monitoring health promotion and education for sexual minority populations. A deputy assistant to the secretary would head this office. One of the provisions of this act was establishing an Office of LGBT Health within the Office of Minority Health. 3001, the Ending LGBT Health Disparities Act. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin introduced H.R. Who in the federal government is looking out for sexual minorities? Which office can the LGBT population look to for health promotion and research that is specific to its needs? Louis Graham, an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, focused his section of the webinar on the need to establish a National Office of LGBT Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Getting a National Office of LGBT Health Established Within HHS This includes penalties for acts that pose little to no risk of exposure such as performing oral sex.
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In South Carolina, for example, HIV-positive persons convicted of prostitution are subjected to penalties that are ten times greater than those for HIV-negative persons. And while poverty doesn't exempt people from having to obey the law, the webinar presenters noted that some penalties for those who are HIV positive may be quite a bit more severe, even when the individuals pose no threat of transmission. That often leads to what many call "survival sex," meaning that some turn to prostitution as a method of survival. Richardson stressed that fighting for impartiality should be on the agenda.īlack gay men face so many challenges (poverty, housing, unemployment, etc.) that they are often at high risk for not meeting their basic needs. This population is at a higher risk of being unjustly penalized by the law just for being HIV positive. In a perfect world, we wouldn't have to worry about being criminalized for having sex, but the reality for many black gay men in the South is that fear and ignorance have somehow snuffed out sensibility. Rashida Richardson, a staff attorney for the Center for HIV Law and Policy, spoke about how critical it is for black gay men to fight HIV criminalization laws. In order to level the playing ground and make strides toward ending certain policies that contribute to these burdens, the webinar presenters stressed the need to organize and take action on several key issues. Presenters on the webinar pointed out that black gay men in the South - and around the country - are burdened with mass incarceration, poverty, unemployment, stigma and discrimination.
#BLACK GAY MEN IN ACTION FREE#
South had an agenda for achieving a life free from stigma and discrimination, what would be on it? What are the issues that must be confronted to make progress toward equality? The webinar We Are Here: Toward an Advocacy Agenda for Black Gay Men in the South, presented by HIV Prevention Justice Alliance, brought together select voices to try to answer these questions and more.
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Crafting an Advocacy Agenda for Black Gay Men in the U.S.