Down Low Brothas

[stardusttwin]

Originally posted by TonyB06
...ok, I guess we'll disagree on this.

If this is the situation in the NBA (and with McGrady's 5 percent guess, that's approximately 20 guys or so), I find it both unusual and unlikely that the national media would leave a story like this alone. Particularly when you consider the fact that the NBA is a WORLDWIDE publicity machine.

Think about it. When else have you seen the dominant media culture NOT take an opportunity to portray us as deviant, or somehow less than up to standard?

I think you have this backwards - the fact that the NBA is a worldwide publicity machine is the EXACT reason why this story will be swept under the rug. The #! group rising with HIV and AIDS infections are BLACK WOMEN who are having sexual relations with supposedly heterosexual MEN. If neither party is shooting up drugs then the men are shooting up something else.

Besides, if they started discussing this issue as it relates to the NBA, they'd have to extend it to the NFL, NHL, men in corporate america, governors, senators, local politicians....its easier for mainstream to now pretend to "accept" homosexuality with a few television shows (Will & Grace, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy et al), then to deal with the REAL ramifications of men who feel they have to lead double lives and the destruction that occurs when the secret finally comes out. The better question is when will mainstream media stop dumbing down the reporting of news and issues into friendly entertainment 3 minute segments and finally deal with real issues and situations with depth?

[Professor]

Cound it be that bi-sexual women are spreading the disease - - - who cares - the fact remains that AIDS is being spread by folk from all walks of life. I think we should stop pointing fingers - it's bi, hetro and homosexuals that all suffer. Either stop the behavior or at least put a plastic cover on it.

[stardusttwin]

I hope you are being facetious....besides what does bisexual women have to do with heterosexual women being infected by partners who are in the closet and community attitudes by "straight" men at large that encourages this deceitful behavior?

Lets be clear - I have nothing against gay men - I have a HUGE problem with men who deny they are gay and continue risky behavior in the year 2003.

[DELTABRAT]

Looooooong post!

I have to agree with stardusttwin.

The main problem is that Black women between the ages of 29 and 44 have the highest prevalence rates for HIV and AIDS. The MAJORITY of them are getting HIV from men who have sex with men (MSM) and brothahs on the low. The others are from IVDU. I did not say ALL but most.

Tell ya a story...

A fiend of mine recently, like...last friggin' wekend went out with a guy we ALL kne in college. He told her of how he had hanled his business in terms of paying all his bills off and getting his credit together, etc., and was ready to settle down. She told him that she told her grandmother about it (you know how us women can be) and that she looked forward to his visit. He then said that he had something to tell her. He said that he had been "struggling" with his sexuality.

This "struggle" had been going on for a while and he had his first encounter with a male at 26 yoa. He's 33. Uhm...yeah. You ain't been struggling for 7 years bruh...you are GAY. She told him she thought he was gay and NOT bi, and that he simpy didn't want to accept all the things that being gay comes with. She told him that they could hang out but no nookie, etc. She told him she was glad he told her and that he owed it to the women he was convincing himself he still liked, that he had sex with men.

He said that this MSM stuff is right in front of us at all times, but if you are not privy to know, then you just don't know. It could be a little inuendo that if said, he can tell if the man is down or not.

Case in point, in college, we remember one day he was saying how women felt like the p_____was powerful and that we could control men with it. He then said something like "It ain't all that. Hell I could do without it!" Now, if you know brothahs like I KNOW brothahs, most would be like "Nukka please!" But if ONE man was like "yeah I could do without it, too." Then they would both be like "see yo' ass after the party, bruh." You get what I am saying.

This guy had had sex with a woman in February and din't tell her. He said he told a few frat brothers and his mom. Bottom line is, this brothat will most likely end up married and do what? Live a double life, putting his ENTIRE family at risk.

Originally posted by stardusttwin
I hope you are being facetious....besides what does bisexual women have to do with heterosexual women being infected by partners who are in the closet and community attitudes by "straight" men at large that encourages this deceitful behavior?

Lets be clear - I have nothing against gay men - I have a HUGE problem with men who deny they are gay and continue risky behavior in the year 2003.

[stillwater15]

Originally posted by TonyB06
I read this and it just doesn't have the ring of truth to me. I think if there were more substance to this, wouldn't it have drawn more of a news buzz? Wouldn't a larger sports mag/program have explored this issue? something?

...besides with the high number of out-of-wedlock births to NBA fathers (remember the Sports Illustrated cover story "Where's My Daddy?" 2-3 years ago) I believe the fellas are chasing something after the game, but it ain't each other.

numerous studies have indicated that approximately 10% of the population is homosexual. why is it that people have such a hard time believing that all these superstar athletes and the like are from another planet and don't fall into similar/same categories as the regular joe schmo? i know some professional athletes, both male and female, who have both male and female groupies. they're human beings and prone to the similar/same activities as everyone else. most of the female amatheur and professional that i know are lesbian. most of the male amateur and professional athletes i know play both sides of the fence. it's almost as if the guys have an image to uphold, so they always have trophies on their arms, for the public's appeasement, while behind closed doors, they "keep it on the down low, so nobody has to know."

[nachural]

Originally posted by TonyB06
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AKA2D wrote:
Okay, I see that we are going to agree to disagree...

BUT, if the issue is too close to home, "you" are NOT going to discuss it in any shape, way or form. Think about it...
---------------------------------------------------------------------


...I have absolutely no idea what you mean by this; the issue doesn't affect me one way or the other. I just have a different take is all.

Tony
Not to pry but I think she meant if someone close to you as in a family member was in the same situation, you probably wouldnt want people to know and you wouldnt talk about it with strangers. And even worse if that person was in the public eye you would keep it hush hush. I know i would

[Phasad1913]

Ok, I think I am doing this correctly. The link is about a "phenomenon" in our community sorors and I must say it is appalling and VERY scary. I am sure that you have all heard about the surge in numbers of HIV/AIDS among Black women in recent years. Well, it has been revealed more and more that there is a thing called the "down low" which means Black men are having sex with other men and taking the contracted disease home to wifey, all while not admitting to or even considering themselves gay. The episode of Law & Order last night (4/6/04) was about it and my mom and I cried at the end. Did anyone else see it?

What do you all think about this? Do any of you know someone in the situation, either a man on the "down low" or a woman who has been affected? What can we do about it?

As always, if this has been discussed and my searching skills have failed, please merge and/or tell me.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/05/health/05AIDS.html?th

[Intense1920]

I was reading about this and I understand why people act like this is a game. My feelings are that if a man that I'm seeing wants to see men then let him. Just let me know so I can end the relationship before anything goes down.

[1savvydiva]

http://www.greekchat.com/gcforums/sh...own+AND+low%2A

[Intense1920]

hijack
1savvydiva: I do have too much time on my hands. LOL.
/hijack

[1savvydiva]

I think CT4 must have merged this with one of the other ones. We've had this discussion so many times....girl when will they just learn to stay their azzez out of the closet?

[Phasad1913]

Sorry guys, I didn't mean to drudge up such an old thread....I guess I am just now finding out about this.

[1savvydiva]

Originally posted by Phasad1913
Sorry guys, I didn't mean to drudge up such an old thread....I guess I am just now finding out about this.

OH, I wasn't saying that to you! I was just saying that we've discussed it so many times because it's getting to be such a problem. Scratch that sad-faced smilie!

[abaici]

Unfortunately (well, I guess it was a good thing--I was so freaking naive when I went to college), my Spelman education featured an introduction of the "down low" brotha. A prof suggested we read E.Lynn Harris books. It was frightening yet, I'm glad I found out. There were/are just too many gay, "down low brothas" in Atlanta.

[kiml122]

Speaking of brothers on the DL, who say Law & Order SVU the other night. It was about this exact thing. It was funny with Ice-T breaking down the term DL.