The Complexities of HIV Prevention – Can you hear me now?
Hello, New York Times… HIV isn’t making an alarming comeback; it has never gone away. It never stopped infecting and affecting our communities. It never stopped taking our friends and loved ones. What happened is that HIV has moved from the front pages of our newspapers, from the screens of our televisions, and from the forefront of many minds, and ultimately from the pens of funders. As the Director of The MALE Center, I cannot tell you how many times that I hear the question, “HIV is still around?” when I explain what I do.
The silence has been forced over many years. The muzzles of the CDC, federal and state material review panels, and the mandate from funders that agencies must utilize “boxed” interventions have stifled effective and grass roots HIV prevention and treatment in this country. Agencies had to throw away prevention materials and interventions because they were “too explicit” or “too racy” to be used in the community or because the agency lacked the funds to prove them effective. We have been mandated to tone down our language or face censure from our funders. Boxed effective interventions that have been created and tested in the early 80’s, often in populations unlike ours, are what we are required and forced to utilize in the new millennium.
The structure of our funders and their inability to work together has failed to mitigate the changing epidemic of HIV and has failed to coordinate local prevention efforts. We know that HIV is a complex issue. To address HIV, one must utilize a multifaceted approach to health. HIV prevention cannot occur in a vacuum. It occurs with the complexities of substance use, mental health, STDs, homelessness, violence, racism, homophobia, stigma, employment, socioeconomic status, and fear, just to name a few. Linear funding streams inhibit coordinated, comprehensive, and synergistic programming.
Bureaucratic indoctrination to doing nothing beyond what has been “proven” has led to limited funds for innovation and creativity. It has effectively gagged the true voices of HIV prevention. The “proven” has also led to increased infection, decreased concern, and a malaise of apathy. Gay men have been at the forefront of this epidemic. We are a resilient community. We have no less need to band together now than 25 years ago. Our voices are not silent, but our messages are not unified. This is the call to action! Find your voice and in doing so help create ours!
The MALE Center provides the opportunity to mobilize, empower, embrace and promote our community. Contact us to get involved!
