About Us

In the past seven years, the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus (CBGMC) has addressed the unique set of negative health outcomes affecting our community, with specific attention to the HIV epidemic. We have identified local policy and programmatic solutions through building a body of knowledge around the underlying causes of risk and acquisition.

We bridge the existing gaps between traditional health care providers and non-traditional providers (i.e., club/party, faith, business) that serve Black gay and bisexual men. Our partners are invaluable assets in measuring and making more visible the HIV burden among Black gay and bisexual men in Chicagoland.

We work to strengthen the places we call home.

Purpose & Goals

CBGMC works to improve the general livelihood of Black gay/bisexual men, with specific attention to sexual health concerns, such as HIV/STI testing and treatment. Our goals are:

  • To decrease new HIV infections and improve overall health outcomes, through creative and collaborative programming that promotes HIV testing, routine mental and physical health screenings, and risk reduction practices
  • To recruit and cultivate new leaders in HIV prevention and care in Chicago who are sensitive to our community
  • To improve health care utilization among HIV infected adults and adolescents

Mission, Vision & Values

To mobilize and empower Black gay men and their allies to prevent new HIV infections by addressing the well-being of Black men who have sex with men.

History

In 2005, a five-city study conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 46 percent of the Black gay and bisexual men surveyed were HIV positive. Though this data did not include men from Chicago, community leaders with the support of the Chicago Department of Public Health mobilized into action. Together they planned the first Love Fest.

On National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2006, the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus (CBGMC) was formally launched. The National Association of States and Territories’ AIDS Directors (NASTAD) “Call to Action” report was used to create the initial framework for our programming.

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