Arthur G. Fitzmaurice, PhD, Senior Health Scientist in the Tanzania Office of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Latinx community in the United States is disproportionately affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. While rates of infection have decreased among whites, blacks, and even Latinas, the epidemic is worsening for Latino men who have sex with men (MSM). This population experiences high levels of stigma extending from structural homophobia, sexism, and racism. Dr. Fitzmaurice will discuss stigma as a construct and contributor to negative health outcomes such as HIV infection, AIDS diagnosis, and death. Given the strong correlation of Latinx and Catholic identities, the Catholic Church is uniquely poised with both potentials to exacerbate and to alleviate the epidemic. This Lavender Lunch will consider the historical experience of the U.S. Black Church and the modern African Catholic Church to identify potential roles for clergy and laity to address the global HIV/AIDS epidemic by combatting stigma.