June 17, 2014


Get Tested
Alabama Testing Tour to Commemorate National HIV Testing Day  
Friday, June 27th is National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), a day set aside to raise awareness about HIV testing and encourage Americans to find out their HIV|more 
            
Rainbow flag
Risky text? Risky sex too?
Strategy for mothers
AAHU deadline
HHS Secretary Sebelius Statement... 
At the Department of Health and Human Services, we are committed to ensuring that members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual|more 

2013 Youth Risk Behavior Survey...
Results from the 2013 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were released last week by the Centers for Disease |more 
 

Developing a Comprehensive Digital..

The Women's Collective (TWC) is a community health and human service agency in Washington, D.C., providing direct services and|more 
 
Deadline for African American...
You now have until June 23, 2014 to submit your application for the Black AIDS Institute's 2014 Science and Treatment|more 

 



WHAT WE'RE READING

A cross-section of articles we've read this week about HIV/AIDS, STIs and a wide cross-section of structural and systemic factors impacting HIV/AIDS in Black communities.

 

MSM


Harvard Study Finds Substance Abuse, Mental Health Problems in MSM Interfere with HIV Medication Adherence 

 

Men who have sex with men (MSM) account for more than 60% of HIV infections in the U.S. and 78% of new infections in men. Antiretroviral therapy can control HIV infection and suppress viral load, but mental health and substance abuse problems common among MSM can interfere with medication adherence. How conditions such as depression and alcohol and drug abuse can affect anti-HIV therapy and the success of various interventions are explored in an article published in LGBT Health.

 

Science

 

Mapping HIV Transmission Networks to Reduce Infection Rate 

 

Researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine have mapped the transmission network of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in San Diego. The mapping of HIV infections, which used genetic sequencing, allowed researchers to predictively model the likelihood of new HIV transmissions and identify persons at greatest risk for transmitting the virus.

Two-Thirds of U.S. Adults May Carry HPV

But study finds only 4 of 103 people whose DNA was tested had the cancer-causing strain of the virus

 

Treatment

 

Alabama Department of Public Health Seeking Proposals on HIV, AIDS Education 

 

The health department is seeking proposals from community organizations and other groups on how to better educate the public on post-test disease management. That includes how to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV and adherence to medical treatment.

 

Merck Bids $3.8 Billion for an Edge in Hepatitis 

Merck will buy the biotechnology company Idenix Pharmaceuticals for $3.85 billion in an effort to bolster its arsenal of potential drugs in the competitive arena of hepatitis C treatments, the companies announced on Monday.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Coast Cleared by Others, W.N.B.A. Finally Finds Its Gay Pride 

 

When Brittney Griner, the No. 1 pick in the 2013 W.N.B.A. draft, heard about her league's new campaign to market games to people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender, she said, "What are we going to have, T-shirts, shoes?"

 

Coverage of R. Kelly's Transgender Son Exposes Media Blindspots 

 

R. Kelly's teenage son Jay has been outed as trans, and some folks in the media don't know how to handle it. Jay, who's 14 years old, looks to have been outed by bloggers who picked up the news from his Facebook page. According to Atlanta Daily News, Jay's mother, Andrea, has been supportive of his transition, but R. Kelly has yet to speak publicly on the matter. 

 

For Trayvon Martin's Friend Rachel Jeantel, a 'Village' of Mentors Trying to Keep Her on Track 

 

MIAMI - The young woman walking across the stage in cap and gown in front of hundreds of celebrants has a familiar face. Even outside of this high school auditorium, she is recognized. On city streets here, strangers walk up to her and say, awkwardly, "Oh my God, you're the girl from the Trayvon Martin case."

 

Healthcare.gov Revamped To Ensure Glitches Do Not Return: WSJ 

 

(Reuters) - The Obama administration is revamping the health insurance marketplace HealthCare.gov and removing significant parts from it to ensure that glitches on the site do not return, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing presentations to health insurers and interviews with government officials and contractors.

 

In Texarkana, Uninsured and on the Wrong Side of a State Line 

 

TEXARKANA, Tex. - On a hazy, hot evening here, Janice Marks ate a dinner of turkey and stuffing at a homeless shelter filled with plastic cots before crossing a few blocks to the Arkansas side of town to start her night shift restocking the dairy cases at Walmart.

 

State Lawmakers Tackle Public Health Issues 

 

Four years into implementing the Affordable Care Act, state politicians turned their attention to other pressing health care issues such as preventing drug overdose deaths, limiting e-cigarettes and making medical marijuana more available.

 

States also grappled with the question of who should receive a costly and highly effective cure for hepatitis C. A few states also launched programs aimed at controlling two of the costliest chronic conditions - asthma and diabetes. 

 

Texas GOP Platform Draft Endorses Gay Conversion Therapy 

 

A draft of the Texas Republican Party's new platform embraces gay conversion therapy, arguing that it is a viable option for "patients who are seeking escape from the homosexual lifestyle."

 

These States Invest the Least in Their Students 

 

When it comes to funding public school students, some parts of the country shell out more dough than others.

 

Videos Aim to Inform Patients About Their Medical Options at the End of Life 

 

When Ted Goff was hospitalized late last year, barely breathing and with advanced emphysema, his doctor said the prognosis was bad. They talked about Goff's last wishes and whether he wanted to be placed on a breathing machine. Goff wasn't sure. So his doctor suggested he watch a video explaining this technique and other options for end-of-life care.

 

While Writing for 'Orange Is the New Black,' I Realized I Am Gay 

 

I was underdressed the day we shot Larry's pivotal phone call with Piper for the first season of Orange is the New Black. It was 9 degrees on Fifth Avenue, and I wore New Balances and a pair of wool socks - but I sucked it up because this was the climax of their season-long arc: A scene where both characters are finally forced to be honest after months of lying to each other. It was a scene I'd written with words shamelessly borrowed from my own life, and as I watched Jason Biggs repeat "I don't know if you can," after Piper begs him to let her fix her mistakes, the world around me swirled in a dizzying blur of life imitating art. Or vice versa - it's hard to say sometimes. By the end of the day I mostly was trying not to cry, and I also couldn't feel my feet.
 
In This Issue
Phill Wilson
June is Pride month for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community. The LGBT community has a lot to be proud of. We have made tremendous progress toward LGBT equality over the last|more

EVENTS

Moving Black MSM Along the HIV Care Continuum

June 25, 2014

2pm - 3:30 pm EDT 

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Policy (OHAIDP) is hosting this public webinar to highlight innovative approaches and strategies being implemented by some state health departments, clinical providers, researchers, and federal partners. Registration is now open. bit.ly/SO4jyp    

 


Alabama AIDS/HIV
Testing Tour 
Free lunch, free T-shirts, free info to save your life. 
June 25, 2014 
877-757-AIDS
[email protected]


Brown Bag Lunch (BBL)  

An eight-segment train-the-trainer series that aims to improve HIV care and treatment through training, networking, and mobilization.

Upcoming leader orientations (10 AM PST / 1 PM EST):

  • July 9, 2014
  • Oct 8, 2014   

 

BBL: Jun 20, 2014

Topic: Hepatitis C

Ujima Men's Collective Conference 2014

October 24-26, 2014Abstract Submission Deadline: July 1, 2014 Fort Lauderdale, FL

813-391-6710

www.ujimamen.com

For more information

contact Rebekah

Isreal at

[email protected]

or visit 
 
BLACK AIDS
WEEKLY

PHILL WILSON 

Publisher

 

HILARY BEARD 

Editor-in-Chief

 

TERESA RIDLEY 

Copy Editor

 

LASHIEKA P. HUNTER 

Media and Public Relations Consultant


Founded in May of 1999, the Black AIDS Institute is the only national HIV/AIDS think tank focused exclusively on Black people. The Institute's Mission is to stop the AIDS pandemic in Black communities by engaging and mobilizing Black institutions and individuals in efforts to confront HIV. The Institute interprets public and private sector HIV policies, conducts trainings, offers technical assistance, disseminates information and provides advocacy mobilization from a uniquely and unapologetically Black point of view.

Support the Black aids institute through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC# 12320). The institute holds the independent Charities seal of excellence for meeting the highest standards of public accountability.