Black Gay Men and the State: HIV, Criminalization, and Michael Johnson April 21, 2015 Kenyon Farrow, US & Global Health Policy Director, Treatment Action Group Kenneth Pass, MPH student, University of Michigan Tabias Wilson, J.D. candidate, Howard University School of Law Moderator: Charles Stephens, Director, The Counter Narrative Project Follow the conversation on Twitter: @HIVPrevJustice Use hashtags: #freeblackgaymen
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Welcome and overview Charles Stephens, Director, The Counter Narrative Project
Today s Agenda Welcome and overview Charles Stephens, Director, The Counter Narrative Project Exploring the impact of HIV criminalization on disclosure politics Kenneth Pass, MPH student, University of Michigan The ideological underpinnings of HIV criminalization Tabias Wilson, J.D. candidate, Howard University School of Law Mobilization strategies Kenyon Farrow, US & Global Health Policy Director, Treatment Action Group Q&A
Background Michael Johnson is a young black gay man currently in jail in St. Charles, Missouri He has been charged with 4 counts of HIV exposure and 1 count of transmission under His trial is set to begin in St. Charles, Missouri March 11, 2015
Ways that you can get involved You can write to him We have a messaging strategy call Wednesday April 22 nd at 11am EST (tomorrow) Email me if you want to participate: charles.stephens@counternarrative.org We are releasing an open letter to Michael Johnson from black gay men (help craft it) There is also some organizing happening among black gay men in St. Louis #freeblackgaymen
What we believe HIV criminalization is an extension of massive incarceration of Black people, and should be engaged in the same way. There has been a failure of public health to prevent or give access to care for Black gay men No one should go to prison for transmitting a communicable disease. HIV is not a crime.
Exploring the impact of HIV criminalization on disclosure politics Kenneth Pass, MPH student, University of Michigan
Black gay and Bisexual Men and HIV Health Disparities Globally, there have been increases in the incidence and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among Black gay and bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM). In the United States: In 2010, young Black GBMSM accounted for more than twice the number of estimated new HIV infections than young White or young Hispanic/Latino GBMSM. In 2013, Black GBMSM accounted for 40% of AIDS diagnoses among all GBMSM. Beyrer et al., 2012, 2013; CDC, 2015; Goodreau et al., 2012
Importance of HIV Disclosure HIV disclosure is a major predictor of retention in HIV care. HIV disclosure can act as a barrier or motivator to ARV medication adherence. Non-disclosure of HIV serostatus has been associated with more emotional distress. This distress implicates the physical and psychological well-being of persons living with HIV. AIDSinfo, 2012; Kalichman & Nachimson, 1999; Stirratt et al., 2006a, 2006b; Wohl et al., 2011
Importance of HIV Disclosure HIV disclosure is a major predictor of retention in HIV care. HIV disclosure can act as a barrier or motivator to ARV medication adherence. Non-disclosure of HIV serostatus has been associated with more emotional distress. This distress implicates the physical and psychological well-being of persons living with HIV. AIDSinfo, 2012; Kalichman & Nachimson, 1999; Stirratt et al., 2006a, 2006b; Wohl et al., 2011
Sexual Risk Behaviors and Black Gay and Bisexual Men Sexual risk behaviors do not explain sexual health disparities experienced by Black gay and bisexual men. Social-ecological factors help to explain sexual disparities experienced by Black gay and bisexual men. Crosby, Holtgrave, Stall, Peterson, & Shouse, 2007; Millett, Jeffries, et al., 2012; Millett, Peterson, et al., 2012; Pass et al. (Forthcoming); Wohl et al., 2011
HIV Criminalization and HIV Disclosure 1. HIV criminalization deters disclosure and engagement in HIV care. 2. HIV criminalization should not be used as a way to reduce sexual risk behavior. 3. For many public health researchers, practitioners, and advocates criminalization should be based on intent. Adam et al., 2008; Burris, 2007; Burris & Cameron, 2008; Galletly & Pinkerton, 2006; Horvath, Weinmeyer, & Rosser, 2010; Mykhalovskiy, 2011; Poteat et al., 2011
What does Michael Johnson s Story Tell Us about Disclosure? Discussions on HIV criminalization and anti-criminalization are predominately centered on the lives of people who are not living with HIV. Protecting sero-negative (White) (heterosexual) individuals from transmission. Where does this place the humanity, sexual rights and autonomy, and well-being of persons who are living with HIV?
What does Michael Johnson s Story Tell Us about Disclosure? Persons living with HIV bear the full burden of disclosure, transmission, and contraction (the entire sexual encounter). The student said he has barebacked with multiple friends and ex-boyfriends, situations in which we trusted each other. I mean, I don't just let anybody do it. Yet he also said he had bareback sex with people I barely knew. In those cases, he said, I knew they were clean, sometimes just by looking at them, (Thrasher, 2014).
What does Michael Johnson s Story Tell Us about Disclosure? HIV disclosure is raced, gendered, abled, and classed. Michael s body was indispensable insofar that Lindenwood University did not have to confront his Blackness, gayness, and HIV-status. Michael s sexualized and raced body meant ultimate sexual pleasures as long as his partners did not have to confront his HIV-status. Michael, who has a learning disability, had to sign a document acknowledging his HIV-status.
Further Discussions Anti-blackness and othering within HIV prevention, research, and advocacy. HIV criminalization is the handmaiden of white supremacist capitalist heteropatriarchy HIV criminalization and stigma frame HIV transmission and contraction as the result of shameful behaviors. Intention does not matter. Disclosure for the protection of persons not living with HIV does not matter. The humanity and well-being of persons who are living with HIV matters. These discussions may give us the political will to be honest about our sexual desires and pleasures and to push ourselves towards uncovering freedom within or through them.
The ideological underpinnings of HIV criminalization Tabias Wilson, J.D. candidate, Howard University School of Law
Mobilization strategies Kenyon Farrow, US & Global Health Policy Director, Treatment Action Group
Questions? You may also email your questions to joaks@aidschicago.org
Stay Informed, Visit & Connect: The Counter Narrative Project Charles Stephens, Director Email: Charles.stephens@counternarrative.org Web: http://thecounternarrative.org/ Twitter: @buildingdesire Kenneth Pass MPH student, University of Michigan Email: kenpass@umich.edu Twitter: @kennedyforpres Tabias Wilson J.D. candidate, Howard University School of Law Email: tabias.wilson@gmail.com Twitter: @blaqueerflow Kenyon Farrow US & Global Health Policy Director, Treatment Action Group Email: kenyon.farrow@treatmentactiongroup.org Web: http://www.treatmentactiongroup.org/ Twitter: @kenyonfarrow
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