Macho Men Initiative

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05bfd523.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community Action, Inc.</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id39.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Services"><U><B><IMG SRC="04e0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id97.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 1"><U><B><IMG SRC="0500e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="down" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>    </B><A HREF="id45.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Syphilis Testing"><U><B><IMG SRC="04d0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id47.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Faith Initiative AIDS Sunday"><U><B><IMG SRC="04f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org/mf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B>Click Here For Site Map</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="23fd2993.jpg"> <div> <B>We must protect the women by educating the men. </B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org\aids1.mov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B><IMG SRC="1a17d670.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher speaks about AIDS and African -- Americans</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org\aids2.mov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B><IMG SRC="1a27d670.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>AIDS Case Rate Comparison for Various races in the U.S.</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org/aids3.mov" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B><IMG SRC="1a37d670.jpg" border=0 width="125" height="103" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Learn More From</B></div> <div> <B>NMAC</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I><B>Macho Men Initiative</B></I><I><B> <embed src="HTMLobj-540/Power_of_Love.wav" autostart="true" hidden="true">  </B></I></div> <div> <B> <A NAME="macho_men_initiative"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><B><IMG SRC="233b3af0.jpg" border=0 width="179" height="175" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> <B>An eleven (11) month needs assessment to reach out to men having sex with men, focusing  upon bisexual and down and low men, who do not consider themselves “gay” in the traditional sense and are opinion leaders in their community.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The focus will be upon bisexual and down and low men in gay bars, juke joints, bookstores and other sittings where targeted population assemble.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Street contact will be conducted in peek bar hours periodically on weekends.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>All contacts will receive safe and safer sex education, need for </B><A HREF="id44_hiv_antibody_testing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HIV Antibody Testing"><U><B>HIV</B></U></A><B> and </B><A HREF="id45_syphilis_testing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Syphilis Testing"><U><B>Syphilis</B></U></A><B> testing and information where they may receive additional safe and safer sex education, mental health assistance, and other social needs as applying to each contact personally.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Additionally, we will seek to obtain data through an outreach strategist as to how to most effectively do outreach within this community.  This data is needed, because this particular community is not normally targeted as an isolated community, but as part of the “heterosexual” or “homosexual” community, depending where contact is made.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Developing effective outreach to the bisexual community will allow us to educate this population, learn how to do outreach within the community and thereby lower the number of</B><A HREF="id68_std.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Are STD (Sexually Transmitted Disea"><U><B> STD</B></U></A><B> and </B><A HREF="id63_hivaids.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="What Is HIV/AIDS"><U><B>HIV</B></U></A><B> infections within this community and subsequently lowering the number of female and male STD infections that would normally be transmitted by these bisexual men.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>All data will be computer entered and interpreted for </B><A HREF="id93_msm_third_quarterly_report_for_2002.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM QUARTERLY REPORT"><U><B>quarterly reports</B></U></A><B> to be provided to the HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch’s meetings concerning this project and its strategic planning process.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>STRATEGIES</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>INDIVIDUAL:     </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>One on one contact with MSM who are sexually active within the heterosexual and homosexual communities (bisexual and down and low men).  Contact will be made in gay bars, juke joints, bookstores, crack houses, liquored and bootlegger houses, along with other frequented sittings. </B><A HREF="id44_orasure_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="HIV Antibody Testing"><U><B>OraSure HIV Antibody</B></U></A><B> and </B><A HREF="id45_syphilis_testing.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Syphilis Testing"><U><B>Syphilis</B></U></A><B> counseling and testing will be made available to all contacts along with condoms.  This initiative will be held over an eleven-month period, with a goal to reach not less than one hundred (100) contacts.  It is hopeful that this will increase our counseling and referral services.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>COMMUNITY:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We will conduct a </B><A HREF="id89_parties.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Community Empowerment"><U><B>block party and street rally</B></U></A><B> (independently funded) in communities where MSM who are sexually active within the heterosexual and homosexual communities (bisexual and down and low men) resides. This block party will be conducted early in the initiative in order to create an air of awareness of the Macho Men’s Initiative in the greater Cape Fear region.   OraSure HIV Antibody counseling and testing will be made available to all attending this event.  Condoms and educational materials will be distributed to all attendees.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>GROUP:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We will identify the gatekeepers of the MSM who are sexually active within the heterosexual and homosexual communities (bisexual and down and low men) and conduct small group meeting of ten (10) or so (independently funded) to more directly identify and contact not less than seventy–five (75) MSM who are sexually active within the heterosexual and homosexual communities (bisexual and down and low men) who have sex with women of childbearing age.  It is hope that subsequently lowering the number of females and males STD infections that would normally be transmitted by these MSM who are sexually active within the heterosexual and homosexual communities (bisexual and down and low men).</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Last year, February 1 through December 31, 2002 the Bureau conducted a needs assessment to reach out to down low men of African Descent, who do  not consider themselves "gay" in the traditional sense.  The targeted areas were juke joints (traditional heterosexual clubs), street corners/alleys, sports bars, low key gay bars, bookstores, prisons, faith institutions and other settings where down low men assemble.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Special foci was placed upon Down Low Men of African Descent, who have sex with men in prison/jail now being released, who have sex with women of childbearing age and adolescent females.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">This targeted population was encouraged to practice safer sex and to take the HIV OraSure or Blood Drawn HIV Antibody and Syphilis Test.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">The Bureau worked collectively in a very sensitive manner with the Down Low community in producing a brochure in a non-judgmental manner, named</B><B> </B><B><U>Be Safe! Respect Your Partner! Protect the Blood! and Respect Your Loved Ones!</U></B><B>  This was the first brochure published in North Carolina targeting Down Low Men of African Descent.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="Symb075c00b700f000000000.png" HEIGHT="16" WIDTH="24" ALIGN="bottom" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Objectives Learned:  Down Low Men cannot be reached by traditional means; there is a larger population in North Carolina than anticipated.  There must be an element of trust developed with the Down Low, who is not tabled in order for positive behavior changes to take effect.   Women of childbearing age and adolescent females testing positive for STD will decrease, when the Down Low are empowered to control their own destiny.  When Down Low men are empowered there is a greater opportunity for openness in their traditional relationships; thereby, reducing risk behavior.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>There is much controversy over the concept of down low men.  The follow express one point of view:</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>June 20 - 26, 2001</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0024/wright.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0024/"><U><B>UP FRONT ON THE DOWN LOW</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Regarding Kai Wright's article "The Great Down-Low Debate: A New Black Sexual Identity May Be an Incubator for AIDS" [June 12]: "Down low" is another form of drag-a swagger, a sa-shay, a stance, a lingo, a wardrobe some wear to give the illusion of heterosexuality. In other words, it's another variation on a familiar station: the closet.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> That it is being discussed and propagated as a "new black sexual identity" and oh-so conveniently linked to the catastrophic rise in HIV infections in African America is both laughable and tragic. Some of us still don't (or simply refuse to) get it: It isn't who you are (or aren't), but what you do (and don't do) that puts you at risk for catching the virus. And all of the contemptuous finger pointing that I've seen in the past few months being directed at the DL crowd-the majority of whom, in my experience, are gay, not bisexual or, like the DL brother quoted in the article, "just sexual" or "a freak"-makes it clear that the blame game is far from over.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> The message? Homosexuals-no matter what they call themselves or masquerade as or purport not to be-are responsible, while heterosexuals can find comfort in their ignorance, believing that it can't happen to them and it isn't their problem. Twenty years ago it was "a (white) gay disease." Today, it's "an (African American) DL disease." Old wine, new bottle, same denial.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>James Earl Hardy</B></div> <div> <B>Manhattan</B></div> <bR> <div> <B> The writer is the author of the soon-to-be-released novel The Day Eazy-E Died, which deals with AIDS from a DL man's perspective.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B><U>MSM INITIATIVE PHOTOGRAPHS</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The following links will take you to some photographs taken during various training sessions for Community-Based Organizations involved in the African-American MSM Outreach Initiative.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id97_1.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 1"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 1</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id98_2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 2"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 2</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id99_3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 3"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 3</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id100_4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 4"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 4</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id101_5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 5"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 5</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id102_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 6"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 6</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id103_7.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 7"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 7</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id104_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 8"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 8</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id105_9.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="MSM Initiative Photo No. 9"><U><B>MSM Initiative Photo No. 9</B></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>