Actor Leon Robinson certainly isn't ducking for "Cover." That's the name of the new Bill Duke film in which he stars. It tackles the issue of bisexual men, or those on the so-called down-low, in the African-American community.

"In my opinion, a man and women's sexuality is their own business, but if you're sleeping with men or sleeping with women, (your partner has) a right to know so they can make a decision on their own," says Robinson, who's usually billed as just Leon.

"Cover," which also stars Aunjanue Ellis, Razaaq Adoti, Vivica A. Fox, Louis Gossett Jr. and Patti LaBelle, explores the shadowy world of married men in Philadelphia hooking up with guys without the knowledge of their wives or girlfriends.

Although the film was shot and takes place in Philly, it's a national problem, specifically within the African-American community, according to filmmakers.

"Bill Duke told me a story, and it was very touching," says Leon. He said someone he knows "contracted HIV from her husband of seven years, and she found out that he was living a double life -- and instead of killing somebody, he said, 'let me make a movie about it.' "

The problem occurs when straight women -- who aren't aware of their men's behavior -- are infected by their down-low partners. The rate of HIV diagnosis for black males is nearly seven times that of white males, and the HIV diagnosis rate for black females is more than 20 times that of white females and nearly four times that of Hispanic females, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In "Cover," Leon plays Ryan Chambers. His death unspools the life of Valerie Maas (Aunjanue Ellis), who discovers that her husband has been living a double life.

It's a problem the black community has yet to fully address, the actor says.

"We don't want to discuss things that we really should discuss and educate ourselves about -- especially when you're dealing with people of color. They're usually very religious people, and they go to church for guidance. And the church isn't discussing it either, so therefore the problem persists, persists, persists."

In addition to "Cover," Leon is starring with Billy Dee Williams and Shirley Murdock in Je'Caryous Johnson's stage play "3 Ways to Get a Husband," which tours the East Coast through the end of March.

In that play, he portrays a soldier in between tours of duty in Iraq who comes home to find his girl has strayed.

"With us being at war, you don't see story lines with soldiers being of color and why not? They're going through all the same problems everyone else is going through, and they're out there fighting the same war," he says.

The actor, who will be 46 next month, was born 1962 in the Bronx and raised in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. He played basketball for Loyola Marymount University and landed several TV roles in the '80s. His breakthrough, however, was playing a saint in Madonna's controversial "Like a Prayer" video. Since then, he has starred in "Cool Runnings," "The Five Heartbeats," "Above the Rim" and "Waiting to Exhale." His next project is the upcoming comedy "Capers" with Danny Masterson and a basketball drama, "My Friend My Hero," with Giancarlo Esposito. It's due in 2009.

When he's not acting, he plays with his reggae-soul group, Leon and the Peoples. However, chances are his role in "Cover" will dominate his agenda for the foreseeable future.

"Look at it from the other side of the matter," Leon says of black men who are on the down-low. "You have a wife, family and you're successful, and based on your sexuality, people will take that away from you?

"People want people to come out, but when they do, how do people treat them?"

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