Preface

1. Preface During the 1999 HIV Prevention Leadership Summit ,1 11 American males (10 heterosexuals and one MSM) Attended the summit. Dubbed by themselves as “the Pittsburgh 11.” These men were from cities such as: Atlanta, Buffalo , Chicago ,Los Angeles, Miami, Oakland, and Rochester. These were cities in the President Clinton and Congressional Black Caucus Video mentioned with high rates of HIV/AIDS among African American males that led to President Clinton declaring HIV/AIDS as a State of Emergency In the African American/Black community in the United States

2. Background Continued • The “Pittsburgh 11,” frustrated with the absence of no summit workshops that focused upon the HIV prevention needs of heterosexual men, met offline to begin discussing long-standing barriers to heterosexual men of color accessing HIV prevention services and care: • Access to HIV Prevention services consisted of traditional at-risk groups, MSM, Injection Drug use (IDU), Criminal Justice, and one the Care side PLWHIV/PLWAs. 2. There were no HIV Prevention Programs designed to meet the prevention needs of heterosexual men • The Pittsburgh 11 made a solemn oath among themselves to continued advocating in their perspective locales and nationally for the inclusion, parity , and representation of heterosexual African American/Black males in the design of HIV prevention programs

3. Black Men Latino Men Health Crisis, Inc. (BMLMHC) A Call to Action Position Statement , A pro-active response to the unmet HIV prevention needs of marginalized communities of Black and Hispanic heterosexual males

4. Dramatic shift in STD, HIV, and AIDS in the City of Rochester, New York According to HIV/AIDS data from Monroe County Department of Public Health, located in upstate New York: • Although the majority of Monroe County residents are white, the majority of STD and HIV cases occu in Black males and females. • High rates of STD and HIV have shifted dramatically to Black heterosexual males and females. • The current CDC HIV/AIDS Surveillance policy obscures HIV transmission trends in heterosexual males and females. • STD/HIV interactions and access to HIV prevention resources distributed using the CDC criteria for heterosexual cases’ of HIV are major factors to STD and HIV disparities among black heterosexual males and females

5. Position It is the position of BMLMHC, Inc. that:In spite of several advances in HIV prevention and care: U.S. Blacks are experiencing alarming rates of STD, HIV, and AIDS; Federal, state have not allocated equitable HIV Prevention resources for marginalized communities of Black and Hispanic heterosexual males and females. The Current CDC Surveillance Policy continue use of its outdated HIV/AIDS at-risk group assignment hierarchy that drives funding allocation at the expense of minority populations particularly Black heterosexuals. Nationally known Community Based Organizations reports documenting HIV/AIDS in Black America have been grossly inaccurate, excluding the reality of HIV acquisition and transmission among black heterosexual males and females. HIV/AIDS prevention, Black “Think Tanks that included Black MSM, women , and the exclusion of Black heterosexual men.

6. Key Recommendations Broad-based/nationwide community support that includes the Congressional Black Caucus, Hispanic Caucus recommendation by the Ms. Foundation urging the CDC to revised its HIV/AIDS Surveillance Policy. Allocate HIV Prevention Funding based on current trends not on the “squeaky wheel.”