Ideologies of Black churches in New York City and the public health crisis of HIV among Black men who have sex with men

Abstract

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS in New York City (NYC). Black churches in NYC have a history of engaging in community mobilisation; however, research suggests that churches play a role in promoting stigma against Black MSM, which impedes prevention efforts. The goal of this study was to explore church ideologies surrounding sexuality and health, and the relationship of these ideologies to church mobilisation in response to HIV/AIDS among Black MSM. We conducted interviews and focus groups with pastors and parishioners at Black churches in NYC. Three prominent themes were identified: (1) ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin’ – distinguishing behaviour and identity; (2) ‘Don't ask, don't tell’ – keeping same-sex behaviour private; and (3) ‘Your body is a temple’ – connecting physical and spiritual health. We discuss the implications of these ideologies for church mobilisation and HIV prevention efforts. In doing so, we pay close attention to how ideologies may both impede and facilitate church dialogue around sexuality and heightened responses to the HIV crisis affecting Black MSM.

Keywords:

• Blacks
• men who have sex with men
• HIV/AIDS
• churches
• religious ideology

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grant 3 R01HD050118-S1 (awarded to Richard G. Parker, Ph.D. by the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development), a diversity supplement to the parent grant RO1-HD050118, which supported a research study entitled Religious Responses to HIV/AIDS in Brazil. This article was also supported by a Eugene Kennedy Shriver US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development administrative supplement to this parent grant (grant number 3 R01HD050118-05S1; Principal Investigator Richard G. Parker, Ph.D.), issued under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The views expressed in this paper are solely those of the authors and not those of NICHD.

Notes

1. The ‘body is a temple’ phrase comes from 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (New International Version): ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body’.