The Jewish Fund Supports Brother 2 Brother Program to End AIDS

DETROIT — The LGBT Detroit End AIDS program expanded in June with the newly-developed and funded social group Brother 2 Brother, largely because of support from The Jewish Fund. The goal of Brother 2 Brother is to create safe and secure opportunities for men to address the sexual practices that increase the risk of contracting HIV. This will also provide Metro Detroit with another resource to address the increase of HIV and STIs (sexually transmitted infections).
"The Jewish Fund is very proud to support the launch of LGBT Detroit's Brother 2 Brother initiative through a three-year grant," said Margo Pernick, executive director of The Jewish Fund. "We are impressed with the organization's thoughtful and focused outreach efforts and its motivation to address an issue that is often concealed within our community. LGBT Detroit has the leadership and track record to accomplish its objectives we look forward to this exciting partnership."
Executive Director of LGBT Detroit Curtis Lipscomb said that the initiative will help many in the LGBTQ community.
"According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black and African-American MSMs (men who have sex with men) and MSMs of other races and ethnicities have an increased chance of being exposed to HIV because of the larger number of MSMs of color living with HIV," Lipscomb said. "LGBT Detroit addresses this alarm by implementing Brother 2 Brother."
The group discussions will assist the participants in addressing the behaviors of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, sexual relationship dynamics and the social and psychological influences that racism and homophobia have on HIV risk behaviors. The gatherings will include guided meetings, community outreach, resource/information tables at local events and increased access to testing.
LGBT Detroit aims to provide a safe space for HIV positive men as well as a space for HIV negative men to encourage them to stay negative.
"LGBT Detroit has extensive experience and expertise in LGBTQ health, HIV/AIDS and STIs," said Danny Inman, program director of LGBT Detroit. "We engage in direct service provision, prevention, and health promotion programming, as well as structural strategies aimed to reduce STI and HIV rates among LGBTQ communities."
The program name "Brother 2 Brother" honors the late Joseph Beam and the late Essex Hemphill. Beam is the author of the acclaimed and award-winning book "Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men," which was completed by Hemphill after Beam's death in 1988. The book is a collection of now-classic literary work by black, gay male writers.
The final goal for the Brother 2 Brother groups is that attendees will be able to share physically and emotionally safe settings, while learning and sharing in a supportive environment.
More information about LGBT Detroit can be found online at lgbtdetroit.org or by calling 313-397-2127. The Jewish Fund can be found online at the jewishfund.org and by calling 248-203-1487.