Discrimination and Hate Crimes in the Context of Neighborhood Poverty and Stressors among HIV-Positive African-American Men Who Have Sex with Men

In a sample of HIV-positive African-American men who have sex with men (MSM), we examined neighborhood factors that may contextualize perceived discrimination from three intersecting stigmatized characteristics: race, HIV status, and sexual orientation. HIV-positive African-American MSM (N = 162, mean age = 44, SD = 8) provided information on neighborhood-related stressors and discrimination experiences related to being Black, HIV-positive, or perceived as gay. 

Residential ZIP codes and US Census data were used to determine neighborhood poverty rates. Regressions, controlling for socio-demographics, indicated that (1) higher neighborhood poverty was significantly related to more frequent experiences with hate crimes (Gay-related: b = 1.15, SE = .43, p < .008); and (2) higher neighborhood-related stressors were significantly related to more frequent discrimination and hate crimes. 

For HIV-positive African-American MSM, higher neighborhood poverty and related stressors are associated with experiencing more discrimination and hate crimes. Interventions for this group should promote individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic empowerment and stigma reduction.

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By:   Dale SK1,2, Bogart LM3, Galvan FH4, Wagner GJ3, Pantalone DW5,6, Klein DJ7.

• 1Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. skdale@mgh.harvard.edu.
• 2Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. skdale@mgh.harvard.edu.
• 3Health Unit, RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA.
• 4Bienestar Human Services, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, USA.
• 5University of Massachusetts, Boston, MA, USA.
• 6The Fenway Institute of Fenway Health, Boston, MA, USA.
• 7RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, USA. 

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