Speaking of making dumb as hell decisions, nowhere do we make more zany and life altering choices than in the realm of sex and sexuality.
With HIV infection rates in the black community hovering around 70% of all new cases within the last two years and young black gay/questioning youth making up 50 % of gay male infections in the last five years, it is time we knock off the bullshit, realize people are screwing (raw dogging) and start having some real conversations that could save some goddamn lives.
When we choose fear over action and immobilization over momentary embarrassment,we run the risk of losing an entire generation to something that is completely preventable.
Black churches please stop promoting abstinence as the only suggestion for eliminating this virus.
Community centers – we need your doors open during the hours (10 P.M.-6 A.M.) that people are most willing to engage in risky behavior.
We also need free and unlimited supplies of condoms and lube.
We need people who are unafraid and willing to teach people how to utilize these tools.
We also need time to find out what makes folks trust someone with their life (which is what unprotected sex is).
As Brene Brown states : we must value short term discomfort over long term resentment.
This honest approach to sex and sexuality prevents infection and provides another option besides wearing a condom or practicing abstinence.
People don’t abstain.
It is time to have some very difficult and life saving conversations regarding when, how and with whom we engage sexually.
We must encourage one another that our lives are more important than getting off and give up the belief that the most pleasurable sex is unprotected sex
We have to gird ourselves with the knowledge that HIV, STDS and unplanned pregnancies are real and no matter the glamorous spin Hollywood adds, sex has consequences that can last beyond our most recent encounter.