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As the 19th International AIDS
Conference began in Washington, several faith leaders and others were
interviewed about the black church’s handling of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The Rev. Anthony Evans, president of
the D.C.-based National Black Church Initiative, is about to unveil a
controversial recommendation that people “take a year off of sex and deal with
who they are.”
Evans acknowledged that talking
about AIDS “goes against historic and deep-seated folkways and norms of the black
community, that you are to be silent about your personal life.” However, he
wants people to get tested and share the results.
The Rev. Tony Lee launched Community
of Hope, a nightclub-turned-church in Hillcrest Heights, Md. that does HIV
testing during services four times a year. Lee himself has been tested at the
pulpit and said, “What better place to be than in the House of the Lord, to
find out where you stand? And who you can stand on?” When people get their
results during the service, they receive health and spiritual support.
Pernessa Seele’s group, the Balm in
Gilead, is co-sponsoring a conference on faith and AIDS at Howard University
this weekend. She said, “The role of the church is unique for the
African-American community. It’s where we disseminate information on anything.
...The role of faith is to dismantle stigma. We do that by speaking truth
around people’s lives.”
Alton B. Pollard III, dean of Howard
Divinity School, said HIV/AIDS awareness is growing in the black church.
“Instead of pointing fingers at behaviors, it should be an ethical challenge.
...It’s a turn, to look at yourself, the man in the mirror.”
Joe Madison, a Washington radio talk
show host on WOL-AM, said HIV/AIDS issues remain “basically ignored” in the
black community because of homophobia, ignorance, and embarrassment.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
