Chicago Tribune - July 12, 2004
Dawn Turner Trice

I was excited to learn recently that some also are starting HIV/AIDS prevention programs. And not a moment too soon.

This type of outreach is particularly important because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began distributing money July 1 to community-based HIV prevention programs to target people living with the disease who may transmit it to others. In the past, the primary focus has been on those who aren't infected but are in high-risk categories.

HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach are something Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side has been doing for more than a decade. Some other South Side ministers slowly but surely are learning that the virus can no longer be ignored.

Historically, the black church hasn't been too keen on dealing with HIV/AIDS or issues of sexuality, particularly homosexuality. But look at the statistics: In Chicago, 15,900 people have the disease, with African-Americans making up 56 percent of the total; nationally blacks make up 12 percent of the population but account for more than half of all new HIV infections.

Anthony Hollins, co-chair of Trinity's HIV/AIDS Support Ministry, said he recently did a presentation for about 15 South Side pastors who want Trinity to help them start HIV/AIDS programs.

"I was amazed at their interest and happy about it," Hollins told me. "On some level, when you're starting the discussion, you have to spoon feed and go slowly. But eventually you can't talk about HIV and not talk about the modes of transmission, including homosexuality and drug abuse."

HIV/AIDS is a reality about which everybody needs to be concerned. It's not a disease that affects only those people--gays, drug abusers and prostitutes.

A recent study has shown an increase in HIV infections among black male college students in North Carolina, and experts fear it could be even more widespread on college campuses.

"As our youth go away to school, we want them to handle decisions [about sex] better and to learn to deal with pressures from their peers," Hollins said.

He said that's part of the reasoning behind Trinity's youth sexuality project that addresses not only AIDS, but also sexuality in general. They focus on abstinence, but they also talk about healthy sexual behavior.

Trinity's HIV/AIDS ministry began in 1992, not long after church member Connie Starks lost her younger brother to the virus. Starks said she was involved in a 15-member prayer group, and between February and December 1991, three members lost a loved one to AIDS.

"I addressed the issue with Pastor [Jeremiah] Wright because so many people were dying from this disease," Starks said. "He said start a ministry."

The group met for the first time on a Sunday afternoon in her kitchen. About five people attended. Afterward, they ran an announcement about the fledgling group in a Sunday bulletin, telling parishioners that if they had lost someone to AIDS or if they were interested with helping people with the disease, they should get involved.

About 30 people responded. "We told them they'd have to go through a 20-hour training program [given by a doctor on staff at Provident Hospital], and people still showed up," said Starks.

Now the group has about 100 members. They volunteer in AIDS units at Stroger Hospital, Provident Hospital and the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center, Cook County's facility dedicated to people with HIV/AIDS. They read to patients; they cook meals, among many other things.

The group also holds workshops on prevention, treatment opportunities and how to live with the disease.

Since July 1999, when Chicago started tracking new HIV infections, there have been on average 1,150 cases reported each year.

Across the city, you can find non-profit agencies, hospitals and myriad other groups working to fight the spread of HIV/AIDS and to help those already infected.

And because the church continues to play such a vital role in the black community, it's the perfect partner in the struggle.

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