AEGiS-14IAC: A program that enabled church leaders and the gay community to counteract religious and media prejudice against people with AIDS and HIV in Detroit, Michigan.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

A program that enabled church leaders and the gay community to counteract religious and media prejudice against people with AIDS and HIV in Detroit, Michigan.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. E11430)

Reinhart RE
Episcopal Church, Detroit, Michigan, United States

ISSUES: I am a priest in the Episcopal Church. I have been working for eighteen years in the field of aids and HIV. I have worked, primarily on the issue of combatting homophobia and AIDS-phobia in the media and in religion. Description; in the early 1980's aids groups in Detroit asked me to create a program to combat the media hysteria and religious hatred that confronted people with AIDS in our city. I organized an annual christmas religious event called "people who care about people with AIDS." This event brought highly placed ecumenical church leaders together with well-known gay/lesbian community leaders to speak out against the negative media portrayals and religious condemnations being made against people suffering with AIDS and HIV. Through this annual service, and the major amount of positive media attention it received, we played an early and effective role in eliminating vicious television, radio and newspaper attacks. We also made it impossible for respected, "mainline" religious leaders in our area to declare that AIDS was god's punishment for homosexuality. The planning process for the "people who care" program built an intense, trusting relationship between religious leaders, AIDS organizations, and the leadership of the gay community. This relationship was based on a common commitment to equal health care, justice, and an honest appraisal of religious teachings. This relationship was built in the very early years of the AIDS epidemic, far earlier than it occured in most other cities.

ISSUES: We learned that the battle against hatred and fear never ends. Recomendations: I reccomend that the church, glbt community, governmental leaders, and AIDS organizations establish strong programs enabling them to assure proper health care and support for for people with AIDS. This process creates creates mutual understanding and amutual commitment to empower Detroit people affected by AIDS.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Homosexuality, Male, Homosexuality, HIV Infections, Prejudice, HIV Seropositivity, Homosexuality, Female, Organizations, Dependency (Psychology), Hate, Religion, Michigan, Male, Female

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E11430