The Centers for Disease Control states that:

Black/African American gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men are more affected by HIV than any other group in the United States. In 2018, black/African American gay and bisexual men accounted for 26% (9,756) of the 37,832 new HIV diagnoses and 37% of new diagnoses among all gay and bisexual men in the United States and dependent areas.

Also, according to the Black Futures Lab report, When the Rainbow is Not Enough: LGBTQ+ Voices in the 2019 Black Census2, lack of affordable healthcare and lack of affordable quality housing were identified as two of the top five most pressing economic problems among Black respondents who identified as gay or bisexual (note: these statistics were not further broken down by gender).

Though considerable progress has been made over the years, these statistics (and more) punctuate the dire and continued need for our advocacy, work, and services in our communities. Black gay and bisexual men still need access to care, education and other resources, and NAESM is committed to continuing to lead the charge to meet these needs.

NAESM provides free to low-cost testing for sexually transmitted diseases. You might think an appointment is needed when it isn’t! Testing is fast, convenient, and confidential.

Know Your Status Getting tested is easy, friendly, and confidential. Simply walk-in or schedule an appointment when you’re ready.

NAESM provides short term rental assistance and utility assistance for HIV positive individuals in need of such assistance, as well as assistance with deposits and first month’s rent for HIV positive individuals needing to move into a new home. NAESM will soon also provide emergency lodging assistance, and long term rental subsidies (similar to Section 8 subsidies) to HIV positive individuals in need of that kind of support.

Each client’s journey is unique and there are multiple barriers that may prevent a person from seeking support with managing their substance use. NAESM provides licensed behavioral health professionals who can assist HIV positive individuals as well as Black gay and bisexual men irrespective of their HIV status.

We provide a safe space that creates activities dedicated to the personal growth and development of LGBTQ+ youth.

Need someone to talk to? NAESM provides licensed behavioral health professionals who can help clients sort out their feelings and better face their challenges. This service is available to HIV positive individuals as well as Black gay and bisexual men irrespective of their HIV status.

NAESM believes in providing new and existing HIV positive clients with the appropriate assistance to lessen the impact of dealing with HIV/AIDS. Being linked to care is a crucial first step in successfully living with HIV.

Our Community Health Navigators and other staff are here to help clients secure medical benefits, food, transportation and housing assistance.

These are exciting and troubling times to be engaged in HIV service work. Exciting because of the federal commitment to “Ending the HIV Epidemic”; because of the HIV treatment and prevention tools that we already have and that are in the pipeline, promising the possible eradication of HIV deaths and HIV transmission; and because of the ways in which HIV research, medications, and service delivery approaches have been successfully conscripted in the fight against COVID-19. Troubling, because health inequities in outcomes and resources on the basis of race, income, and educational attainment persist; because resources continue not to follow the epidemiology of HIV infection; and because there seems to be little political or philanthropic will to aggressively tackle the social determinants of health—healthcare access, housing, widening income disparities, environmental decline. To support our community in taking full advantage of these opportunities and tackling persistent threats, as a part of this strategic plan NAESM is renewing its commitment to community mobilization, advocacy, capacity building and research.

I am deeply grateful to our many funders and partners that assist us in the work we do. And I am equally grateful to the clients, community members, partners, staff, and Board of NAESM for their invaluable contributions to the work of NAESM. I look forward to three years of improvement and expansion. And now that work truly begins….

We Love You, Love Yourself, Be Healthy!

NAESM’2024 National African American Leadership Conference on Health Disparities and Social Justice

June 2024

The NAESM African American MSM Leadership Conference on Health Disparities and Social Justice is our nation’s largest annual convening dedicated to exploring HIV prevention, care, treatment, policy, and research advances related to Black men who have sex with men. The conference provides an opportunity for Black MSM-serving organizations and individuals to share best practices and methodologies.

Black Gay Men’s Research Agenda Report

Epidemiological data released at the 2005 National HIV Prevention Conference demonstrated the significantly disproportionate HIV incidence among Black men who have sex with men (BMSM). In a large-scale study, 1,767 MSM were tested for HIV, and 46% of those who tested positive were Black. Of the Black men who tested HIV positive, 64% had been unaware of their HIV status (CDC, 2005). This report triggered an outcry from Black gay men across the United States. A central question emerged in response to these results: Given the federal and local appropriation earmarked for HIV and AIDS research and program interventions, why were Black gay men not experiencing improved health?

Our Impact In Numbers

We’re passionate about our communities and how we’re able to enhance their lives

2

Locations
With 2 locations in the Metro Atlanta Area, we’re able to service our targeted communities in need.

30

Years
For more than 30 years we’ve continued to develop cutting-edge strategies to conduct HIV prevention activities to help reduce percentage of new HIV infections.

5000

Lives Touched
We’ve happily enhanced the lives of over 5,000 minorities throughout Atlanta and Georgia.