BGMLC Blog

What has the BGMLC Been Doing Lately?

Lee — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:00:10 +0000

While you haven’t heard much from the BGMLC recently, we are still doing work to benefit Black LGBT communities in the city of Philadelphia. We are in a period of re-focusing our efforts and building a stronger structure, so we can continue our work on a larger scale. We plan to do a membership drive later in the year, so we can tap into the energy and commitment others may have toward working with the BGMLC to help fulfill the organizations’ mission of improving the lives of Black gay men.

I want to share with you a few activities we’ve been involved in over the past couple of months, so you have an idea of what we’ve been up to. These activities include:

spearheading a letter writing effort to the local STD control program to develop a better plan to address the increasing Syphilis epidemic among Black MSM in Philadelphia. This letter was successful and the STD control program has been convening regular meetings and developing a plan to provide community based organizations serving Black MSM with the support needed to do STD screening on site, versus having to refer them to city sites. It’s important for organizations who serve people of color communities to have the capacity to do as much as possible in house for our communities. This is a step in that direction. (more…)

Blacks Continue to Lead in New HIV Infection Rates

Lee — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 02:48:31 +0000

Last week the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reported that Blacks continue to account for the majority of new HIV infections in the United States. The statistics in the report are from 2006 and look at HIV incidence rates. Incidence refers to how many new infections are diagnosed in a year vs. prevalence which looks at the rate of HIV infection within a certain demographic group cumulatively over years.

In addition to the rates of new infections being primarily among Blacks, new HIV testing technology has also found that there are more new HIV infections occurring a year than was previously believed. The number the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has used for many years was 40,000 new infections in the US annually. However, in the August 3rd JAMA report, a new number of 56,300 estimated new infections was revealed, which is an almost 40% increase over their previous estimation of new infections annually. (more…)

New Book On the LGBT Experience in America

Lee — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 05:28:03 +0000

“Crisis: 40 stories revealing the personal, social & religious pain and trauma of growing up gay in America” is a soon to be released book edited by Mitchell Gold that shares the personal narratives of 40 gay and lesbian persons from all over the country. A few of the interviews are with people of color such as H. Alexander Robinson (Executive Director of the National Black Justice Coalition), Alec Mapa (Actor & Comedian) and Rev. Irene Monroe (Nationally known lesbian theologian).

The book will be in stores on September 1st and can be found in Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com in hardcover for $23.95. For more information on the book, visit the website.

Nelly Uncovered!

Gary — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:49:17 +0000

Gratuitous Shot of Hot Black Man- Enjoy! Gary is Back for your Blogging Pleasure!

Nelly Goes Shirtless and Abtatsic on the Cover of “Brass Knuckles”

This week it’s all about Nelly. First, the news of his multi-episodic story arc on next season’s CSI: NY. Then, the first look at the new images of Nelly featured in the Sean John underwear campaign. Oh, and he sings too. Via No Cream No Sugar and The Brothas Club, is a look at the new alternative cover art for Nelly’s new CD Brass Knuckles. For those who enjoy their rappers less chemically-fortified is the original, more Nas-like cover.

The album has been plagued by more than a year of delays. It looks like someone has been eating their ~~supplements~~ spinach during the long wait.

More NELLY
More MEN

Hate Crime Connection?

Gary — Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:39:56 +0000

Report: Indictments Expected in Newark Triple Murders

An update to the investigation into the fatal shootings of three Newark college students who were killed only hours before they planned to attend a black gay pride festival. Prosecutor say a grand jury could return indictments as soon as next month.

Terrance Aeriel, Iofemi Hightower and Dashon Harvey were killed in August 4, 2007 when they were shot execution style outside a Newark elementary school. Harvey was openly gay, Hightower may have been lesbian, and, the friends “had planned to drive together to New York City the next morning to attend a black Gay Pride event at Riis Park Beach.” Police also say at least one woman was sexually assaulted. Six men, ranging in age from 16 to 28, face murder, aggravated sexual assault, robbery and weapon possession charges (more…)