Minorities and AIDS

A common misconception is held among many ethnic minoritiesin San Francisco that AIDS is exclusively a ‘gay whitemale disease’. This myth is false, but dangerous. To assistethnic minorities in understanding their risks for AIDS, successfuleducational programs for these populations must recognize thediversity within these communities, including their differingcultures, languages and religious backgrounds. San Franciscohas adopted a model that utilizes well-established and well-respectedcommunity-based organizations to provide the education and riskreduction programs. Utilizing these organizations allows foreducation of diverse populations that is culturally and linguisticallyrelevant, thus allowing San Francisco an opportunity to preventthe national minority AIDS statistics from occurring withinits boundaries.