Social space is crucial. You only need to look at the crowds of black gays that have attended the past two Mr. Black Gay UK events in London and Birmingham. No doubt the figures will continue to rise and the event establishes itself over the coming years. Having been a co-host of the past two events I feel the need to comment on some of the observations from a health-promoting angle.

People have commented on the success and the failure of both events. I put my hand up and say that sure there needs to be better organisation in the future. But hold on just a minute where are black gay boys and girls themselves when it comes to doing things for their community? These events just don’t happen they require evidence that there is a need for such health promotion initiatives in the first place. 

Black gay men still remain invisible to much of the health promotion service and as such it has always been difficult in fighting for funding to develop new projects and support existing ones. We need your support each and every one of you. So the next time an outreach worker comes up to you at these events or in bars and clubs do yourself and others a favour and complete a survey form and make us visible.

The Gay Men’s Sexual Health Survey 2002 is distributed throughout gay bars and clubs and events up and down the UK. It is also available for completion on the internet at gay.com.
Over the past 5 years of studies black gay men have represented only 5% of the total respondents. On average 111 men complete the questionnaires each year, that’s about the total number of black gay men we might see at Bootylicious on one night. I admit the form does take time to complete (about 10min) and it asks questions of a personal nature. But consider this. If every year these figures represent the total number of black gay men then there is less and less of a need to warrant work and interventions that seek to provide the spaces for black gay men that appear so popular.

Let’s get in the habit of completing these forms guys.

Good health isn’t just about the absence of illness. Others and myself in the field are addressing all of the social issues that you have highlighted. These can be achieved with your support. Gay men’s liberation didn’t happen over night. Some would argue that we don’t need to change a single thing and that everything is hunky dory? I disagree. What I see out there in society saddens me. Homophobia in the black community and racism in the gay community must not be tolerated, it must be challenged if we are to truly feel good about ourselves all of which impacts on our overall well-being. 

Updated version of Chatblack are now available from gay venues or by calling 020 7530 3992.

I am no longer at Camden & Islington I am now the Black gay and bisexual men’s development officer at the Terrence Higgins Trust in London. You can contact me on 020 7831 0330 ext 4212.

For all your health and social issues including asylum and immigration call :
The Terence Higgins Trust,  DIRECT 0845 12 21 200 (cost of a local call) open 11am till 8pm Mon – Fri.
Only available to London callers - goes national in March 2002. Or visit our website www.tht.org.uk

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3.20 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."