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Transitions
Volume 14, No. 4, June 2002

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Latino Young Men Who Have Sex with Men: Unique Needs and Challenges

By Alex Franka, Program Associate, Advocates for Youth

A large and growing community of Latino young men who have sex with men (YMSM) is severely affected by HIV/AIDS in the United States and in Latin American countries. According to a recent study, Latino YMSM in the United States are twice as likely to become HIV-infected as are white YMSM.⁸ Latino YMSM need prevention programs that are appropriate in both language and culture and that address their specific Latino community.

Challenges in Preventing HIV Infection among Latino MSM

Why are Latino YMSM at higher risk of HIV infection? In many Latin American countries, ministries of health refuse to acknowledge HIV infection's prevalence in the population.²¹ Sometimes, the ministries alter HIV/AIDS statistics and derail research efforts.²¹ As a corollary, prevention messages reach few people in these countries. Thus, immigrants arriving in the United States may have little information about the importance of safer sex.

As a group, Latino YMSM come from traditional families where religion and family are important and homosexuality is stigmatized. Latino YMSM seldom self-identify as gay or bisexual. They marry and have children rather than 'out' themselves. Many of these young men suffer from depression and engage in sexual activities with other men when under the effects of alcohol and/or drugs. Unprotected sex in these circumstances increases their chances of being infected with HIV and then of infecting their female partners. Many Latino YMSM also have a false perception of their safety because they believe that only gay or bisexual men get infected with HIV. Since many Latino YMSM do not self-identify as gay or bisexual, they believe they are not at risk for the virus. Thus, they may not consider the risks posed by unprotected sex.

Culturally Competent Prevention Messages

Since Latino YMSM often don't identify as gay or bisexual, they don't respond to prevention messages aimed at gay or bisexual men. Prevention messages must be specifically tailored to Latino YMSM. Latino populations need interventions that are in tune with their values and beliefs and that include activities to increase knowledge and promote positive changes in sexual behaviors. Campaigns should aim at individual, interpersonal, and societal levels.

1. HIV transmission among injection drug users is a serious problem among Puerto Ricans living in the States.²² This community needs messages integrating prevention and treatment for HIV/STI and substance abuse.
2. Sex between men represents the primary cause of HIV infection among Latinos born in Mexico, Cuba, Central and South America.²² Therefore, prevention messages in these communities should focus on understanding cultural attitudes towards homosexuality and bisexuality.
3. Countries in Central and South America need encouragement and support in creating better education prevention programs. With more knowledge about HIV, people in these countries can make better informed sexual health decisions.
4. In the United States, Latinos need high quality health services and prevention messages that are not racist homophobic. Provider staff needs to be sensitive to the needs of Latino YMSM from different communities.
5. Messages should utilize voices of Latino YMSM. Print material should be accessible in the places Latino YMSM look for sex and in clinics where they go for treatment.²³
6. Messages targeted to HIV-positive YMSM should empower young men to protect both themselves and partners from STI infection.

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Transitions (ISSN 1097-1254) © 2002, is a quarterly publication of Advocates for Youth—Helping young people make safe and responsible decisions about sex. For permission to reprint, contact Transitions' editor at 202.419.3420.

Editor: Sue Alford

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