“They’re not feeling the love they need to feel”: HIV stigma and other intersecting stigmas among Black gay and bisexual men and transgender women in house and ball communities

Abstract

Introduction:

Stigma negatively influences engagement in HIV prevention and care. This study explores how young Black gay and bisexual men and transgender women (GBT) in the House and Ball Community (HBC) experience HIV and other intersecting stigmas.

Method:

We conducted phenomenological analysis of interviews with 60 young Black GBT HBC members and 30 older leaders of the HBC.

Result:

Participants described experiences of enacted, perceived, and internalized HIV stigma and intersecting stigmas related to race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, gender expression, and body size, as well as their responses to HIV stigma. Intersecting stigmas shaped and reinforced one another, leading to isolation and increased HIV vulnerability.

Conclusion:

Interventions to ameliorate intersectional stigma and its effects are needed to improve primary and secondary HIV prevention in the HBC.

Keywords:

• HIV stigma
• gay and bisexual men
• transgender women
• HIV prevention and care
• intersectional stigma

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the research team who made this work possible, including Marne Castillo, Christopher Balthazar, Bevin Gwiazdowki, Anna Hotton, Aashima Sarin, and Diana Lemos. We also thank the tireless efforts of our Chicago and Philadelphia Community Advisory Board members for their time and commitment to this study and their community. In Chicago: Icon Father Tommy Avant Garde, Legendary Amari West/Xian, Legendary Father Mario Balenciaga, Mother ShaSha Baldwin, Legendary Kweli Balenciaga, Legendary Father Gorgeous Gucci/Father Rajah, Relic Mizrahi, Legendary Alonzo Balmain/Baldwin, Nate Baldwin, Jeff Omni, Rykko Herrera, Amya Mugler/Baldwin, Adonte Prodigy/Baldwin, Icon Tyanna Ebony, and Milani Varela. In Philadelphia: Legendary Mike Ebony, Ja’Nae Balenciaga, Legendary Bubby Revlon, Dippy 007, Legendary Season Lanvin, Shimmy Old Navy, Ike Ebony/Avalon, Jay Escada, Legendary Aamina Prodigy, Kemar/Old Navy/Mizrahi, Nick Prodigy/Avalon, Joshua Ninja, Legendary Fuzzy Blahnik, Icon Jay Blahnik, Tatyana Escada/Farragomo, Maurice West/Avalon, Tori Prodigy, Legendary Hakeem Balenciaga, Legendary Markise Prodigy, Kash Balenciaga, Dominique Ebony, and Will Blahnik.

Ethics statement

Study procedures were approved by the Institutional Review Boards at Cook County Health & Hospitals System, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and the University of Michigan.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are not publicly available due to their containing information that could compromise the privacy of research participants.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health under Grant 5 R01 MH104106.