Treatment GuideJust DiagnosedSex & DatingAfrican AmericanStigmaAsk the HIV DocPrEP En EspañolNewsVoicesPrint IssueVideoOut 100
CONTACTCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
© 2025 Pride Publishing Inc.
All Rights reserved
All Rights reserved
By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
An HIV prevention project funded by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is targeting young black men who have sex with men in Dallas County. Operating out of a Commerce Street storefront in Deep Ellum, the four-year, $1.6 million program uses peer-to-peer outreach and goes beyond safe-sex education by addressing some of the underlying challenges these men face, including homophobia and discrimination.
"It's not solely about HIV prevention," said Vernon Jones, one of three paid staffers at United Black Ellument. "It has to do with a lot of issues that young people have in a big city, like coming out of the closet, starting a career and taking care of yourself."
Susan M. Kegeles of the University of California, San Francisco, is leading the effort. Dallas was selected because it did not have any prevention programs specifically addressing young black MSM -- a relatively small group believed to have high infection rates. "It's not that this group is necessarily engaging in more sexual activity," she said. "It's just that this fairly small network of people is having sex with each other."
"These are young men who haven't learned to communicate about sex, much less safer sex," said Kegeles. "Even the most basic knowledge about HIV/AIDS is lacking in this group."
Upcoming UBE outreach opportunities include a picnic, fashion show, weekly coffee, a worship service and an event called "Queerly Speaking." UBE uses Facebook and MySpace to get its message out. "We also do outreach in gay clubs," said Jones.
To date, UBE has reached more than 300 black men, mostly ages 18-29. When the pilot ends in 2011, a survey will assess rates of HIV testing and safe sex in this population. HIV infection rates will be compared to peers in Houston not involved in prevention efforts. If successful, UBE will likely be duplicated in other U.S. cities.
From our Sponsors
Most Popular
Lexi Love comes out as HIV+ after Trump deletes federal resources
January 23 2025 11:23 AM
Grindr is reminding us why jockstraps are so sexy and iconic
May 02 2025 5:36 PM
BREAKING NEWS: Trump admin moves to end federal HIV prevention programs
March 18 2025 6:10 PM
Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources
January 31 2025 5:29 PM
This long-term HIV survivor says testosterone therapy helped save his life.
December 16 2024 8:00 PM
Celebrating Black History Month with our annual African American issue
February 01 2025 3:28 PM
Discover the power of Wellness in your life
March 26 2025 12:41 PM
Tyler TerMeer vows to continue to fight for health care for all
January 28 2025 3:00 PM
Plus: Featured Video
Latest Stories
Trump admin guts $258 million in funding for HIV vaccine research
June 03 2025 3:47 PM
HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts
April 28 2025 2:11 PM
Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more
April 21 2025 4:10 PM
500,000 Children at Risk: PEPFAR Funding Crisis
April 08 2025 3:51 PM
Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes
April 03 2025 7:15 PM
The Talk Season 5 premieres this spring with HIV guidance for the newly diagnosed
March 26 2025 1:00 PM
Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring
March 26 2025 12:20 PM
Jess King is here to help you live your happiest, healthiest life yet
March 24 2025 4:35 PM
Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times
March 11 2025 3:38 PM
Plus nominated for 2025 GLAAD Media Award
January 22 2025 12:42 PM
A camp for HIV-positive kids is for sale. Here's why its founder is celebrating
January 02 2025 12:21 PM
'RuPaul's Drag Race' star Trinity K Bonet quietly comes out trans
December 15 2024 6:27 PM
Ricky Martin delivers showstopping performance for 2024 World AIDS Day
December 05 2024 12:08 PM
AIDS Memorial Quilt displayed at White House for the first time
December 02 2024 1:21 PM
Decades of progress, uniting to fight HIV/AIDS
December 01 2024 12:30 PM
Hollywood must do better on HIV representation
December 01 2024 9:00 AM
Climate change is disrupting access to HIV treatment
November 25 2024 11:05 AM
California confirms first case of even more deadly mpox strain
November 18 2024 3:02 PM