Finding the “Community” in Community-Level HIV/AIDS Interventions: Formative Research with Young African American Men Who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

Data from 76 qualitative interviews with 18- to 29-year-old African American men who have sex with men (MSM) in Chicago and Atlanta were examined to identify perceptions of "community" and components of a community-level HIV/AIDS intervention. Many men reported feeling marginal to African American and gay White communities because of perceived homophobia and racism. Those who reported feeling part of gay African American communities characterized communities in terms of settings, social structures, and functions, including social support, socialization, and mobility. Despite these positive functions, divisions among groups of MSM, lack of settings for nonsexual interaction with other MSM, lack of leadership, and negative attitudes toward homosexuality may make it difficult for men to participate in activities to alter community contexts that influence behavior. Rather, changing norms, increasing social support, and community building should be part of initial community-level interventions. Community building might identify leaders, create new settings, and create opportunities for dialogue between MSM and African American community groups to address negative perceptions of homosexuality.

Nonsupportive Peer Norms and Incarceration as HIV Risk Correlates for Young Black Men who have Sex with Men

“…In a study that examined the meaning of community for BMSM (Kraft, Beeker, Stokes, & Peterson, 2000), one participant said, ''Being in the Black community, the only thing you got is each other. And [if you are gay], you really don't have them, so you don't have nothing'' (p. 433).…”

Sexual Diversity Among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men in an Inner-City Community

“…23,24 Researchers have focused on men's individual behaviors, even as they have observed and described the powerful social factors that influence these behaviors. 7,25 It has been noted 26 that stigma associated with HIV may be a strong community-level mechanism that influences the individual behaviors of Black MSM (i.e., not to use condoms), particularly men who are HIV infected.…”

Perceptions Towards Condom Use, Sexual Activity, and HIV Disclosure among HIV-Positive African American Men Who Have Sex with Men: Implications for Heterosexual Transmission

“…Although a growing body of qualitative work has begun to examine the psychosocial issues that NGI African American MSM/W face as both ethnic and sexual minorities, [8][9][10][11][12][13] little of this work has focused directly on attitudes towards condom use or on other factors that influence potential HIV transmission to women. Such research is particularly needed given studies indicating that African American MSM are more likely than White MSM to have both male and female partners and to identify as heterosexual or bisexual.…”

“…7,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] Much of the literature on African American MSM/W highlights their status as stigmatized and stereotyped minorities. 8,[10][11][12][13]22 An HIV-positive diagnosis increases their minority status, particularly given that HIV stigma is well documented among African Americans. 23,24 Not identifying as gay, continuing to have sex with females, or not revealing an HIV diagnosis may be ways that HIV-positive African American MSM/W avoid triple-minority status; however, researchers have identified a range of complexities and competing rationales for non-gay-identification and bisexual behavior.…”