Author ORCID Identifier

Dexter R. Voisin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-26-2017

Abstract

Black gay men must navigate identities and stigmas related to being gay and Black, and report higher HIV incidence relative to their White male counterparts although they report lower rates of drug use and risky sexual behaviors. This study examined whether closeness to the gay or Black community correlated with HIV-related risk and protective behaviors. Data were drawn from uConnect, a population-based cohort study of young Black men who have sex with men (YBMSM) on Chicago's South Side. The sample consists of 618 Black MSM ranging in age from 16 to 29. Cross-sectional measures for this study include Black and gay community closeness, drug use, sexual risk behaviors, HIV testing, and health promotion behaviors. Closeness with the gay community was associated with greater pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) knowledge as well as participating in health promotion programs along with higher rates of transactional sex and having sex under the influence of substances, and increased odds of self-reported HIV seropositivity. Involvement in the Black community was associated with lower odds of reporting being HIV positive. Findings suggest that programs and initiatives are needed to help promote the positive aspects of the Black and gay communities, while minimizing the negative correlates of such involvements.

Keywords

community, health outcomes, HIV, involvement, young Black MSM

Publication Title

Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services

Rights

© Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Comments

This is a peer reviewed Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, available at: 10.1080/10538720.2017.1408518

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