 photo: pymca/ lola wallace - posed by model |
What do you do if you're a respectable black man and gay? Lead a double life - heterosexual on the outside, but gay on the quiet. Or throw caution to the wind and come out, but face homophobia. What if you have HIV too? Laurence Gibson talks to members of London's black gay community
The black gay community in London is in a predicament. On the one hand, there are the openly gay black boys, living it large and throwing caution to the wind. But many others are more accurately defined as 'men who have sex with men' (MSMs): guys who feel trapped by black homophobia into leading double lives - gay at heart, straight to the rest of the world.
According to Sigma Research, there are between 8,400 and 12,000 black men in Greater London who are homosexually active, and the recent Padare survey of Africans in London found that one in five men had had sex with other men - a higher figure than admitted to by whites.
 Jide Macaulay of Big Up/GMFA |
Safer sex, for both groups, is more often disregarded than among white gay men, according to the same research. But why? Is it about the Church? Is it about homophobia? Is it about racism? Or do all these combine to create secret self-hate and lack of self-esteem?
If you add to this an HIV diagnosis, it can prove to be an event so devastating that it becomes too difficult to cope with.
So what can be done? In order to find out, Positive Nation talked to a number of prominent young, black, gay figures from various black communities in London.
Jide Macaulay, volunteer co-ordinator with London's black gay support group Big-Up (at GMFA), has this to say: "The issue of HIV among black gay men has been an issue for decades. Looking back in history, and at my own experience, the level of ignorance within the black community was high at the time Aids appeared. It gradually re-emerged that infection crosses cultures and isn't related to your self-defined sexual orientation. So black homophobia came at a price: many people suffered and a lot more died because of ignorance, resentment and stigma."
Jide feels religion, or more accurately the churches, are responsible for many of the problems: "They have added fuel to the stigma, damaging efforts for a change in attitudes. Leaving black gay men more likely to go underground, thus damaging their self-esteem."
"The Christian church, mostly led by Africans, is the worst perpetrator of black homophobia. The issues are debated from the pew - where they cannot be challenged - and church leaders use the Holy Bible to support untrue arguments."
Shaun Wallace is an Afro-Caribbean artist working in London. Former fashion designer, currently preparing a fundraising exhibition entitled 'Each One, Treat One', he is setting up his own charity to help raise funds for the black community affected by HIV.
Shaun says: "As gay black men we often feel alienated from our own community and institutions like the church. It is crucial for any individual to feel part of a wider community and support network. If you don't, this inevitably leads to despondency and lack of self worth.
"Feelings of alienation or general despondency will then obviously contribute to low self-esteem, and then maybe to unsafe sex."
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Paul Boakye is editor of the new black men's magazine DRUM (website at www.drumonline.net). He agrees: "A virulent homophobia emanating from black churches and a widespread embarrassment about black homosexuality have helped to prolong the Aids crisis by stifling all sexual health promotion and outreach work.
"It is still believed within many communities that HIV/Aids is a problem that only affects gay men. Until that belief is dispelled, little progress can be made in tackling the rise of HIV within black communities of all sexual persuasions."
But Shaun has had slightly different experiences of religion: "Some churches do take a hard-line stance. But other churches feel it is important to embrace all members of the community - irrespective of sexuality.
"There are problems to do with openly discussing sex and things to do with sexuality. It all gets brushed under the carpet. As a result, the activity takes place underground. Our relationships are either belittled or not recognised at all."
The family, too, according to Jide, is responsible for being a destructive influence: "There are cases of violence and breakdown in family relationships. For example, when an outed or known gay man is discovered, he is seen as an outcast who has brought terrible shame on the family name. From that point on, he cannot be associated with the family or their values.
"The last decade has, however, seen changes in attitudes. There is now a growing, but limited acceptance in the UK. But for those with families abroad it is still a serious matter.
"Now, black gay men usually have the sex they want, and some liberated individuals will go further and settle into a loving relationship. But this remains a real struggle. Black homophobia has left a lot more people disenchanted from the reality of a happy, gay lifestyle."
The crux of the issue seems to be this: many black, gay men on the scene have little self-esteem because of the intrinsic homophobia within their communities. But then there are also the MSMs who don't identify as gay or bisexual, and thus have less access to information, feel suppressed and have little in the way of self-love.
Homophobia in the music scene doesn't help either. Paul Boakye says: "With an estimated 24 million people living with HIV in Africa alone, one would think that certain rappers and reggae singers would have better things to be singing about than the promotion of hatred among their own. The shops and record companies are equally to blame for selling this trash. In my experience, the biggest homophobes are usually the closet queers; it's just a shame that more and more people don't boycott the records of these idiots."
There's another problem: actually plucking up courage to take an HIV test. Shaun Wallace points out: "For MSMs there are other issues that may make them reluctant to have an HIV test. If they do test positive, they will have to explain to their family and friends - and themselves - an aspect of their sexual character that had remained, up to that point, hidden.
"To add an HIV positive diagnosis to the realities of racism and homophobia seems too much to bear. But we must drive the message home to the community at large that HIV can be managed with combination therapy and that people can now live long and fruitful lives.
"Going for a test will allow black MSMs in the UK peace of mind either way. If you're tested negative, great. If you're tested positive, at least you have access to free healthcare, support networks and counselling."
And that in itself is not an option available to the majority of black people around the globe who live in countries where there is no funding for, or recognition given to HIV and Aids.
In a recent article (PN issue 91) it was reported that over one in five gay Caribbean Londoners has HIV, and that people of Caribbean background have experienced an increase in HIV diagnoses second only to UK Africans.
So is there nowhere to turn to? All three spokesmen interviewed for this article share some optimism for the future. Shaun Wallace says: "The Metropolitan Community Church across London welcomes gay and lesbian members. And there are workshops run by groups like PACE and GMFA specifically targeted at black men who sleep with men, and they are extremely beneficial in attempting to understand and resolve issues surrounding sexual identity and practice."
Paul Boakye thinks the way forward is in better health promotion resources. "They should address the black community as a whole and normalise discussion around sex and sexuality - rather than ghettoising particular groups such as black gay and bisexual men or preaching to the converted."
Jide Macaulay can see some light at the end of the tunnel too: "Education and awareness can be aimed at both young and older generations. Families of gay people and bullies from the playground can also be targeted. So can the parents and children of gay men and women.
"The message that works well is continuous education and training; literature that looks deep into the issue of stigma and challenges homophobia; and more services aimed at the victims of homophobia."
The publication of DRUM itself, a magazine designed specifically to target black MSMs who don't identify as gay, could also prove to be a useful tool in breaking down the barriers that generations of people have built up.
Times are, slowly but surely, changing. Communities are very gradually becoming more tolerant, but not fast enough.
"In the end," concludes Shaun, "it's about self-acceptance and self-love. If you accept that you have sex with men and may have engaged in risky sex and love yourself, then you will understand the importance of testing in order to take care of your long term health needs, to make sure you will be around for those that love you."
For more info about London's black gay community and HIV, visit: www.metromate.org.uk For DRUM magazine, visit: www.paulboakye.com and drumonline.net For details of Shaun Wallace's charity and events, contact: shaunart@onetel.net.uk
