For Immediate Release
September 12, 2007 |
Press contacts:
Noel Alicea/GMHC: 212.367.1216,
noel_a@gmhc.org |
GMHC Statement on NYC DOHMH report on Increased HIV Diagnoses Among Young Men Who Have Sex With Men
New York, NY — Preliminary data released on September 11 by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene indicating a 33% rise over the past six years in new HIV diagnoses among young men who have sex with men (MSM) confirm what we at Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC) have known for years: gay and bisexual men, and especially young MSM of color, continue to bear the brunt of the AIDS epidemic in our urban centers.
The DOHMH data indicate black and Hispanic men represent 77% of new HIV infections among young gay men. These data align with information from our Geffen Testing Center, where young men of color test HIV-positive at higher rates than any other group.
"We will continue our focused HIV prevention and testing outreach to gay and bisexual men, and young men of color," said Marjorie J. Hill, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of GMHC. "We need to address how the convergence of racism, homophobia, ideas of masculinity, and HIV stigma affect young men and their decision-making related to risk."
Of particular concern is the rate of increased infection among men who have sex with men ages 13-19. Due to a lack of monitoring and enforcement, we don't know the extent to which young people in the NYC schools are getting HIV/AIDS prevention education, but the available evidence is not promising in this regard.
A 2003 study by then Assemblymember Scott Stringer showed that 63% of NYC schools failed to meet the city's requirement that students receive sex education classes from teachers certified in health education. Stringer also found that the requirement to give general health and age-appropriate HIV/AIDS instruction in every grade was being met "unevenly at best."
"We consider this an institutional failure on the part of the NYC school system to provide for and enforce a comprehensive sex education and HIV/AIDS prevention curriculum for our vulnerable youth," said Robert E. Bank, GMHC's Chief Operating Officer. "The Department of Education must take a proactive approach regarding the legal requirements for health education and the HIV/AIDS curriculum, and establish measures to monitor, enforce, and penalize school districts who fail to comply."
The new data were released on the heels of announcements of federal cuts to local AIDS services, treatment, and care, most notably a recent 22% cut in Minority AIDS Initiative funding for NYC.
"Funding for HIV prevention and care continue to go down while infection rates increase," added Dr. Hill. "This is a formula for disaster."
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GAY MEN'S HEALTH CRISIS (GMHC) is a not-for-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based organization committed to national leadership in the fight against AIDS. Our mission is to reduce the spread of HIV disease, help people with HIV maintain and improve their health and independence, and keep the prevention, treatment and cure of HIV an urgent national and local priority. In fulfilling this mission we will remain true to our heritage by fighting homophobia and affirming the individual dignity of all gay men and lesbians. We provide services and programs to over 15,000 men, women and families that are living with or affected by HIV/AIDS in New York City, and outreach and education to hundreds of thousands throughout the world. For more information about GMHC programs and services, please visit www.gmhc.org.
© 2007 Gay Men's Health Crisis
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