The lack of focus on older brothers
is one of the most troubling aspects of federally funded HIV prevention and its
influence on dialogue and media coverage about Black gay men. I cannot tell you
how many discussions I have been in where black people, black gay men
and/or allies have resisted engaging Black gay men of all ages and through an
either/or paradigm defaulted to those under 25. Specific engagement of young
men (HIV prevention, education, activism) is obviously warranted. However
this focus neither requires nor justifies the lack of intergenerational focus,
or public attention and innovation committed to older men.
The wisdom and resilience of older
Black gay men who survived the early holocaust years of the epidemic should be
more widely acknowledged and utilized in our HIV prevention and
other efforts. Gay men do not live their entire lives in exclusive age
bubbles even though age does shape our personal networks. I know that I benefit
greatly from the presence of younger brothers in my life, that we benefit
mutually across generations. As an HIV prevention worker, writer and activist
and most directly as a 54 year old Black gay man who has been HIV+ since 1985,
I have spoken/written about the significance and perspectives of men from my
generation. I have also recently joined a group called Men of Color in Motion
not only because it affirms poz Black men but it is comprised of “men of a
certain age”. We are developing a project that will honor poz Black men
who have been living with HIV for 20 years or more. I need to connect with
other older men for my own support/gratification and my community building
work.
As one committed to social change, I
want to help ensure that other older men are not isolated, disconnected. I want
to find/create more intergenerational spaces as well as
spaces/groups/activities tailored for us.
“We Are Here: Black Gay Men in
the South,” is a blog tour curated by the Counter Narrative Project and the HIV
Prevention Justice Alliance to amplify the voices of Black gay men in the
South. Each day for the next week a new piece will be posted. For more
information feel free to e-mail.
Excellent Craig
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