Abstract #396  -  Are gay communities dying-II? A follow-up to the Consultation at AIDS Impact (2007) on how gay communities are evolving globally.
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Dr Bill West - HIPS Program
Additional Authors:  Dr Simon  Rosser,
Aim: This session seeks 1) to report the results of a consultation undertaken at the last AIDS Impact Conference; and 2) to conduct a two-year follow-up with informants on how their urban gay communities are undergoing structural change, reasons for that change, and implications for HIV prevention planning.
Method / Issue: Key informants (N=29) at the AIDS Impact Conference, 2007, from 17 cities in 14 countries completed surveys and participated in a facilitated structured dialog to identify if and how their local gay communities are changing. Participants in this session will receive an overview of the results from that meeting and be encouraged to identify further aspects of change.
Results / Comments: In the 2007 consultation, in all cities, the virtual gay community was identified as now larger than the offline physical community. Most cities identified that while the gay population in their cities appeared stable or growing, the gay community appeared in decline. Measures included greater integration of heterosexuals into historically gay-identified neighborhoods and movement of gay persons into suburbs, decreased number of gay bars/clubs, less attendance at gay events, less volunteerism in gay or HIV/AIDS organizations, and the overall declining visibility of gay communities. Participants attributed structural change to multiple factors including gay neighborhood gentrification, achievement of civil rights, less discrimination, a vibrant virtual community and changes in drug use.
Discussion: At that meeting, consistent with social assimilation, across cities, gay infrastructure, visibility and community identification appeared to be decreasing. Four recommendations for future HIV prevention and research were detailed. Request: This session is open to all interested persons. A special invitation is extended to anyone who participated in the 2007 workshop.
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