Campaigns for Black gay men
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Introduction
Black and Black British gay men in the UK have higher rates of HIV infection than any other ethnic group, almost twice as much as White British gay men 1. Big Up, the Black gay men’s volunteer group at GMFA, has carried out research on the sexual health needs of Black gay men in an attempt to address some of the health inequalities these men face and create better campaigns for Black men who have sex with men.
New volunteers are needed to become involved in our projects, developing culturally appropriate HIV awareness campaigns aimed at other Black gay men, including those men who have sex with men but don’t identify as gay. We usually meet twice a month and we deliver at least two projects for Black gay men each year. Big Up interventions in the past include the ‘In the Family’ booklets, which celebrate the builders of the Black gay community, Carnival parties, screening events and mass media campaigns covering a range of issues, including the risks of HIV transmission for active partners during unprotected sex and the impact of HIV-related stigma on the rate of new infections amongst Black populations. Currently, Big Up is developing a sexual health booklet for Black gay men and producing a documentary video exploring Black gay men’s identity in the UK.
Big Up welcomes all people, irrespective of ethnicity, sexuality or HIV status, to get involved as volunteers. If you are interested in working with Big Up, or volunteering for GMFA, contact: newvol@gmfa.org.uk.
Big Up's event - Black & Gay In The UK
Big Up’s event ‘Black & Gay in the UK: Rising against the challenges of homophobia, racism and HIV/AIDS’ will take place from 6:30 on Tuesday 3 rd August at The Rich Mix, Bethnal Green Road, E1 6LA. To book your tickets, maximum of four per person, please email bigup@gmfa.org.uk with your name and number of tickets requested and we’ll reply with an electronic ticket, which you’ll need to print out and bring with you on the day. Please make sure to be there by 6:45 to secure entrance to the screening of ‘Beyond Labels’.
If you don’t have access to the internet, you can still reserve your tickets by calling us on 020 7738 3712.
The Big Update
Big Up has also published ‘The Big Update’, a report on the sexual health needs of Black gay men and Black men who have sex with men. ‘The Big Update’ collects data from previous papers and reports relating to the sexual health needs of Black gay men, alongside data gathered through Big Up’s own online survey, and a series of questionnaires and case studies completed by Big Up volunteers and other Black gay men who shared their experiences of sexual health services. Copies of ‘The Big Update’ are available free of charge to GUM clinics and other Black community and health services nationwide. To order your copy, please email bigup@gmfa.org.uk.
References:
1 Multiple Chances: findings of the United Kingdom Gay Men’s Sex Survey 2006. Sigma Research, 2008.
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