It is extremely interesting (and disappointing) to me how you have equated sex-positive spaces (i.e. clubs, parties, etc.) as spaces that promote the spread of HIV. Where does this sort of specious logic come from? Just because certain spaces encourage a culture of sexual relations in no way suggests that these spaces are ripe for HIV infection. That's another reason why people are so misguided in understanding the politics of transmission: "sex-saturated social environments and relationships" have nothing to do with UNSAFE sex. Our goal should be to dis-encourage gay black men from being sexual beings or finding great pleasure in sex but rather to promote a culture of SAFE SEX.

Rashid says: We have two different approaches to this subject -- as long as we're fighting AIDS, that's fine with me.

hey rashid:

you are definitely on the money. And, I will admit that my comment to Franklin may have been constructed or seen as rude, it wasn't. I really don't understand why I was "called out", when I find it offensive to even go there. sex positive means different things to different people..we can't really have a dialogue around this until people really take a hard look at what THEY are doing in their own lives, no?

I'm almost 30 and I can't even count the number of people who have graced my life who have died from or are living with HIV/AIDS...it's not that I won't, it's just that how can any real work be done when folk are too busy pointing fingers with out understanding that EVERYONE is fighting the battle in their own way?

There's more I want to say, but considering my very hilarious and very warped relationship with Frank, I'll refrain (no need to go there when an individual can privately email you and let you have it that way than at someone else's site, no?)

and email me...we should definitely re-connect again since we know each other. :)

You have chosen to address HIV/AIDS through the medium in which you communicate best, the novel. The dialogue must take place in every medium and venue possible whether that be rap songs, poetry slams, novels, non-fiction, biographies, autobiographies, sermons, etc. Why? Because we all receive messages through these different media and we listen and understand best when communicated with in our favorites forms. We don't have to criticize anyone; we just need to be sure that we recognize the need to talk about AIDS prevention and take precautions. Shem hotep.

I served for many years on the board of directors of MN AIDS Project. I have watched the CDC stats go up and down.

One of the qualifications to the Black stats is that there was no way to clearly delineate if Black Gay men became infected because of unsafe sex or because of IV use and sharing dirty needles. This was because so many Black Gay men interviewed for the studies also used drugs as self-medication to deal with the stigma of being Black and Gay. So the discussion also needs to include that. Because sexual inhibitions decrease when one gets high and that leads to more unsafe sex--be it homosexual or heterosexual sex.

The spread of HIV, i.e.the risky behaviors associated with it, has increased again because of the myth that it is controllable with meds. And it is true that more people are living longer lives with AIDS. But as with any virus, it can and will morph to stronger strains that will become resistant to current drugs. And infected folx can be re-infected with a different strain of the virus. That is what a lot of people don't understand, and adopt the attitude "well I am already infected so nothing more can happen to me." But their current meds may not work against the new strain.

What really concerns me is that a growing population that is being infected is teens. So of that 46% stat in NYC, I wonder how many are teens? Anyone know?

Sex saturated spaces and relations do encourage us to have sex. You can not host a sex party and think you are helping the cause. The "specious logic" comes from a real look at how small, seemingly insignificant, inconseqential practices add to an envirnoment that presents spaces that indirectly push one down a path, leaving them stranded alone. The alcohol added to a mix of an already sex saturated environment relaxes ones inhibitions...see where I'm going. Or maybe not.
The venom YOU detect in my post is from the arrogance used to approach the problem originally. It gets under my skin when people yell from the mountain top when people can here them just fine from the ground.

As another person "called out" in his uninformed post, I too resented the whole tone taken. First, these were not NEW statistics. They were merely new to him. If HE were more involved and aware, then he would not have been so suddenly amazed. His sudden surprise over old information caused him to think the rest of us weren't doing enough, when in fact most of us already have and do on a daily basis.

As someone who was around when AIDS was still being called GRID (Gay Related Immunodeficiency Disease) in 1980; as someone who has buried his share of friends and family members; as someone who has worked as an HIV/AIDS educator, going out to street corners and into bath houses to talk to people about safer sex; and as someone who along with THOUSANDS of other bloggers has annually used my space in the "Think and Link" campaign to promote World AIDS Day for the past TWO years, I resent someone whose blog is not yet a year old, and devoted most times to pictures from some club or other, telling me I'm not doing enough about HIV/AIDS.

And yes, the bar and club scene does contribute to the HIV infection rates. Where else do people go to hook up? They are places that perpetuate and promote the impression that we are interested only in the frivilous pursuit of a good time, "looking fabulous" and "gettin' some." Preoccupation with looks and body and sexual attraction versus seeing one another as full human beings is just the form of objectification needed to allow us to use and discard each other solely for short-term pleasure. To be dismissive of the role these places play in contributing to the overall culture that places sex above love is to have your head in the sand.