The awareness of bisexual men in the black community has risen in recent years thanks to insider tell-all books sparking frank discussions on afternoon talk shows about the “Down Low”, or DL, subculture. Rates of newly diagnosed HIV infected women are highest among African-American women, and this statistic only accounts for those who have been tested. Partial blame for this has been attributed to husbands, boyfriends or male sexual partners who live the DL lifestyle. But one has to wonder, would this be happening if the black community were accepting of its gay brothers and sisters? Would men who desire sex with other men play Russian roulette with their health as well as the health of others? Would they knowingly engage in risky behaviors that could potentially drastically change the quality of life of them and those they might infect?

The closet is a powerful thing. Many have used it to protect themselves from social abandonment, fearing separation from loved ones and being shunned in their respective communities. We see it in the entertainment industry, on the athletic field, and in many other high-visibility areas. We celebrate those who achieve, regardless of gender or sexuality, provided they don’t publicly cross certain boundaries or fall into taboo behaviors.

Critics often say that there is a certain desire by members of the gay community to fulfill fantasies whereof the object is a celebrity. While it may be true that the rumor mill is often unfair and unsubstantiated there are those who would argue that certain things cannot be ignored nor overlooked in regards to possible consideration of a person’s sexual orientation.