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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 12, 2006
Contact: Patrick L. Kelly: (404) 691-8880 ext. 14
Email: pkelly@naesmonline.org
Public Service Announcement
PSA
NAESM to host the
2007 National African American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS
in Charlotte, NC
National AIDS Education & Services for Minorities,
Inc. (NAESM) announces that it will host its 3rd National African
American MSM Leadership Conference on HIV/AIDS in Charlotte, North
Carolina from January 25 – 28, 2007. According to NAESM, this
conference is the only one of its kind in that it focuses solely
on African American men who have sex with men, a population whose
HIV/AIDS infection rates are disproportionate when compared to those
of other ethnic and risk exposure populations in the United States.
“Brothers, It’s Our Time” is
the theme of this upcoming conference and it is the hope that many
African American MSM leaders and service providers will attend this
conference to network and exchange skills and resources to strengthen
HIV/AIDS prevention efforts targeting the African American MSM community.
“This conference is important to us”, states Roosevelt
Mosby, Executive Director of SMAAC Youth Center in Oakland, CA.
“It’s one that we must all come together and support
so that we can learn from each other and stop this deadly disease
on our own community.”
According to data released by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in June 2005, 46% of black gay men were known
to be HIV positive in a five cities study known as the Young Men’s
Study (YMS). Cornelius Baker, a long time leader and advocate in
the fight against HIV/AIDS and member of the newly formed National
Black Gay Men’s Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC) says, “We
cannot stand by and watch as HIV, syphilis, crystal methamphetamine
and other dangers take hold on the lives of black, gay men.”
NBGMAC Chair Rudolph H. Carn, also Executive Director of NAESM adds,
“It’s our time to take control of our lives. If not
us, who will?”
The 2007 National African American MSM Leadership
Conference on HIV/AIDS continues to grow momentum as it is supported
by Gilead Sciences, Inc., Tibotec Pharmaceuticals, NBGMAC, People
of Color in Crisis (New York), SMAAC (Oakland, CA), the New York
State Black Gay Network and others. Expected guest speakers include
the Rev. Al Sharpton and a host of other HIV/AIDS advocates and
supporters. In 2001, the debut for the conference, more than 150
people attended. In 2002, the number of attendees nearly doubled.
During this 3rd annual conference, more than 350 people are expected
to attend.
Currently, NAESM is accepting abstracts,
sponsorship, registration, and scholarships. For more information,
visit: www.naesmonline.org.
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