ABSTRACT
HIV/AIDS was initially viewed as a problem limited to the male homosexual community and set the stage for a variety of institutions, groups and individuals to showcase their prejudices, discrimination and in some cases, violence against the “defiled” homosexuals who were simply reaping the ills of their ungodliness. What is now known as AIDS was first recognized in the U.S. during the early 1980s among white gay men on both the east and west coasts and among intravenous drug users (IUD’s) on the east coast.
This early view, which solidified the connection between HIV/AIDS, male homosexuality and drug addicts made it extremely difficult to garner any widespread community support to stem the spread of the disease. This dynamic, coupled with the burgeoning numbers of AIDS deaths, provided the catalyst for the gay community to forge an intense and very public grassroots movement to demand government action. Persistent demonstrations and protests, which were often confrontational, eventually led to the enactment of federal AIDS legislation known as the Ryan White C.A.R.E. Act. This provided the critical resources to address the growing numbers of AIDS cases on a national scale and resulted in the development of a separate network of community-based, (AIDS service organizations) ASOs that sprang up in direct response to the lack of humane treatment and the denial of basic medical services.
A few faith-based AIDS programs were established at the onset of the 230epidemic, but the majority of religious organizations seem entrenched in a fortress mentality to maintain a comfortable distance from the unquestionable relationships between sexual behavior, intravenous drug use and the spread of HIV/AIDS. As a growing number of congregations are now confronted with how to minister to those among their ranks impacted by HIV/AIDS, it is prudent to capitalize on almost two decades of experience by collaborating with established ASOs.
