HIV/AIDS and Communities of Color
The HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to ravage communities of color. The disease disproportionately affects men and women of color — gay and bisexual men of color, in particular — and the disparity is escalating.
- Men of color account for a greater proportion of AIDS cases among men who have sex with men than do white men in the United States.
- AIDS is the leading cause of death in this country for African Americas between the ages of 25 and 44.
- Latino men who have sex with men account for 42 percent of all AIDS cases in the Latino community in this country.
- African Americans make up nearly 54 percent of all new AIDS cases in the United States, yet they account for 12 percent of the total U.S. population. Latino Americans make up 19 percent of new AIDS cases, yet they make up 13 percent of the U.S. population.
- African-American and Latina women account for more than 75 percent of all AIDS cases in the U.S., yet they make up 25 percent of all U.S. women.
- Ninety percent of black gay and bisexual men who tested positive for HIV believed they were at low risk for infection, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Nearly 75 percent of those black gay and bisexual men who were found to be HIV-positive had believed that there was no chance, that it was very unlikely or that it was unlikely that they were infected with HIV, according to data released by the CDC.
People of color often face prejudice and other obstacles as they try to find out more about HIV/AIDS prevention and obtain care and treatment. Racism is a key factor. And AIDS is often largely misunderstood to be a "gay disease." Unfortunately, this mix of racism and homophobia can impact prevention efforts and limit the flow of resources.
The Solutions
Communities of color have unique needs for HIV/AIDS-related services — and also face unique obstacles in trying to obtain them. This mix of factors requires a comprehensive and targeted approach toward directing resources and empowering communities.
Overall, emphasis must go toward programs that target under-served communities and those communities that are most at risk. So far, local organizations are carrying out some of the best work. They know that community participation is key toward implementing and administering services.
Another solution is to boost government funding of programs that prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide care for those who are living with the disease. The Human Rights Campaign is committed to fight aggressively to do just that.
Through federal advocacy, HRC is empowering local leaders to respond to the HIV/AIDS crisis and reverse the intolerable trend of disproportional impact on people of color, including gay and bisexual men of color.
What HRC Is Doing
HRC is fighting to secure funding at the national level directed toward local community organizations that know best how to help those most in need.
As part of the National Organizations Responding to AIDS coalition, HRC lobbies alongside a variety of allies for increased funding for the MHAI. This initiative — strongly supported by the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Congressional Asian-Pacific Americans Caucus — is a cross-cutting measure that targets federal resources to fight HIV/AIDS in communities of color.
HRC supports the federal CDC's efforts to target communities of color. The CDC has boosted funding for prevention programs in the African-American community.
HRC is advocating for an expansion of Medicaid for HIV/AIDS patients — currently the largest program for providing health care for disabled and low-income Americans. Under the current system, most HIV-positive patients are not eligible for coverage until they develop full-blown AIDS. HRC backs a bill in Congress, the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which would allow states to provide assistance to HIV-positive individuals early on.
Part of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act provides funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. ADAP makes available HIV-related prescription drugs to those without access to drugs. Communities of color represent the majority of ADAP clients — African Americans, 34 percent; Latinos, 24 percent; Asian-Pacific Islanders and Native Americans, slightly more than 1 percent. As health care costs rise, HRC continues to fight for increased funding for the CARE Act.
This program assists people with HIV/AIDS to obtain stable housing. More than 60 percent of HOPWA clients are from communities of color. HRC encourages Congress and the president to increase funding for other housing programs that can benefit people living with HIV/AIDS.
