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Dangerous
living for the "down low" men
Women,
what you are about to read may shock you,
because it is happening right under our
noses. It is happening in all races from
Caucasian to Indian; it is not just an African-American
problem.
However,
since I am an African-American woman I thought
it would be a good idea to check up on the
statistics of HIV cases among African-American
women and they are staggering. We represent
68 percent of new HIV cases. When you realize
that African-Americans are only 11 percent
of the population, the statistic is even
more alarming.
What
is going on? According to renowned HIV/AIDS
activist J.L. King, whose 2004 book, "On
the Down Low," sent shockwaves throughout
the country, the startling practice is going
on overwhelmingly in our community.
Men
who are in relationships with women are
secretly sleeping with men as well. These
men are living on the "D.L." (down
low) and their actions are fueling an epidemic.
These down low men are sons, nephews, uncles,
brothers and fathers in our community.
When
I first heard about the down low a few years
ago, I didn't know what it meant.
I
assumed it was homosexual men ashamed of
their sexuality, so they covered it up by
having heterosexual relationships. A down
low man is a straight man, they say, with
sexual desires for another man. Meaning
it could be a curiosity, a fantasy or simply
a gay tendency.
These
men are killing women across the world and
it's time to put a stop to it. Whatever
your sexual preference may be is totally
up to you, but having unprotected sex and
going back to your significant other is
not. That is when it becomes a world issue
and the problem in so many AIDS cases.
Men
on the down low should already be aware
of all the different types of STDs and sicknesses.
To put someone else's life in jeopardy for
15 minutes of pleasure can be deadly for
an innocent human being.
In
"On the Down Low," King, a former
down low brother himself, takes an in-depth
look at the mindset and behavior of D.L.
men. You will learn how to recognize
the signs and get answers to questions such
as why many men deny being gay, and when
and where it starts.
Women,
go get this book. I can't stress enough
how important this book is for everyone.
Men choosing to live life on the "D.L."
are putting our women in serious danger.
It is done by men to "save face,"
but saving lives is of much greater importance.
Brandy
Stowers is a senior public relations major
at CSULB.
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