Miami Herald - June 27, 2004
Andrea Robinson, arobinson@herald.com

Twice a month, Alphene Rhone treks from his North Miami office to a barbershop on Biscayne Boulevard. He doesn't go for the regular haircut, trim or style. Instead, he delivers condoms -- and information that could save a few lives by halting the spread of HIV.

Rhone is an office manager with the United Foundation for AIDS, a community organization that focuses on stemming HIV infection and other sexually transmitted diseases in Miami-Dade's at-risk populations -- namely, minorities and gay men.

One of UFA's campaigns is the Urban Soul Squad, an outreach initiative designed for black and Hispanic men and their sex partners. Over the past year, squad members partnered with Cutz, the Morningside barbershop popular with the hip-hop and professional crowds, as a spot where customers could get packets containing condoms and miniature palm cards that have information about the virus.

"This is not about condoms so you can [have sex]," Rhone said. "It's about life. There's information inside those packets."

Today is National HIV Testing Day, a time when AIDS prevention organizations descend upon neighborhoods to urge residents, particularly those in minority communities, to get tested.

But beyond the one-day activity, Soul Squad hopes to make larger inroads into educating black and Hispanic men on the importance of protecting themselves and their loved ones. Leaders hope the partnership with Cutz is the vehicle for greater influence.

In April, members visited Cutz to hold a workshop for barbers to become HIV peer educators. The barbers were instructed on the ways in which HIV is transmitted, among other things, and on the proper way to use a condom.

Scott Vandenberg, director of Urban Soul Squad, said that in return, the hair specialists can pass along a safe sex message to customers who sit in their chair for a haircut or beard trim.

The barbers "are the front-line people," Vandenberg said.

AIDS community organizations around the country have long used black barber and hair salons to promote safe-sex campaigns, leaving condoms along with leaflets containing information about counseling, how to avoid HIV and where to get tested.

Vinco "Peter" Bethel, manager and co-owner of Cutz, along with former NBA star Alonzo Mourning, said the campaign seemed natural, given the ferocity with which AIDS has hit South Florida.

"I thought it would be extremely beneficial for our clients. There's so much casual sex going on."

'UNFORCED' MESSAGE

Bethel said he and the barbers don't force the message on anyone. During the typical shop banter, if the topic turns to relationships and dating, the barbers seize the opportunity to talk about safe sex -- and the brown wicker basket filled with condoms that sits on the front counter.

"It reinforces the importance of protecting yourself," Bethel said.

The customers, a mix of people in their 20s, with a smattering of older guys on lunch break, didn't seem to mind the wicker basket.

Teddy Theodore, 26, likes the campaign.

"This is something that can protect your life," said Theodore, waiting for a beard trim. "It's good for me to [hear]."

The nationwide testing day was started by the National Association of People with AIDS 10 years ago to encourage at-risk individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

Officials at The AIDS Institute, a Tampa advocacy and education organization, say as many as 280,000 people in the United States are HIV positive and unaware of it.

"National HIV Testing Day is a reminder to all of us that HIV/AIDS continues to decimate our communities and that there is something that we can do to help halt this epidemic," said Michelle Scavnicky, TAI education director.

STILL RELUCTANT

Rev. Stacey Latimer, of the Balm in Gilead, a New York education group that works with black churches around the country, said many black men remain reluctant to discuss AIDS, more than 20 years into the epidemic.

Latimer, 41, lectures to black men nationwide about the importance of speaking out. He was diagnosed as HIV positive more than 18 years ago and remained silent for five years for fear of being shunned. But he found the silence was even more deadly.

Latimer said the steps taken by Bethel and other Cutz barbers could help jump-start needed discussions. "Everybody should get involved, from the media, to the barbers to the pastors, the person who does your nails. Everybody needs to have factual information," he said.

"The more we talk about HIV, the easier it gets to discuss."

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