HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS 

 

The National Black Justice Coalition believes that HIV/AIDS is a major crisis in the world and in the Black community.  We vow to work toward eradicating the disease through education, mobilization, and advocacy efforts.  NBJC supports increased funding for The Ryan White Care Act.  We support increased efforts for targeted prevention directed at Black communities, and particularly toward Black SGL/LGBT communities. 

 

We support needle exchange programs, which have been shown to reduce infection rates without increasing new drug use.   

 

We support distribution of condoms in prisons and voluntary HIV testing of prisoners, so long as mechanisms can be put in place to prevent coercion of inmates, to protect the privacy of the prisoners, and to guarantee access to counseling and treatment for those who test positive.  

Although we understand the role of abstinence in preventing HIV and other STDs, NBJC supports honest, candid, accurate and age-appropriate safe sex education in public schools.  We believe that abstinence-only prevention approaches are unrealistic and destined to fail. 

 

The National Black Justice Coalition supports efforts to eliminate discrimination against people living with AIDS.  Therefore, we do not support so-called HIV transmission laws that criminalize the transmission of HIV.  We encourage people living with HIV/AIDS and those who are HIV negative to act responsibly in preventing the spread of this disease.  Ultimately, we believe that people living with AIDS need counseling, treatment and support, not a jail sentence. 

 

The National Black Justice Coalition is very concerned about the rise of condom-less sex parties where the use of protection is discouraged or disallowed.  We strongly encourage members of the community and event promoters to engage in and promote safe sex to prevent the spread of HIV and other STDs.  

 

We strongly support free, widely accessible, rapid results HIV testing with appropriate counseling.