Continuing their founders week celebration, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., held a workshop/discussion on Sexual Health and the African American Community, Tuesday night at the Multi-Cultural Center.
Heidi Burkey, health education assistant for CSULB student health services, discussed a wide range of issues that affect the minority community, particularly women and young people in general.
Burkey provided statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that show African-Americans, who make up approximately 12% of the U.S. population, account for half of the HIV/AIDS cases diagnosed. Burkey said African-Americans and Hispanic women account for more than 3/4 of AIDS cases among women.
“Women, and minorities in particularly, need to be better educated about sexual health,” said Burkey. She said federal funding for teaching sex education in schools has been practically wiped out. “The feds won’t give funding for sex education, only for classes that teach abstinence. Europe is so far ahead of the U.S. in this area, that’s one of the reasons they have a better handle on their AIDS situation,” she said.
Burkey cited other statistics from the CDCP that say every 13 minutes someone is infected with HIV, every 13 minutes someone is diagnosed with AIDS and every 34 minutes someone dies of AIDS.
Another big area of concern is sexually transmitted infections (STI) among young people. 3 out of 4 cases of Chlamydia occur in persons under the age of 25. In cases of Gonorrhea, 75% of reported cases are diagnosed among ages 15-29. It’s estimated that all new HIV cases are among people under the age of 25, and females make up 47% of all new HIV cases for young people ages 13-24.
“We need to be acknowledging these disparities as the first step in empowering communities”, said Burkey. Talking to friends and family about what they can do to protect themselves and ending the “culture of quiet” about sex is also a step in the right direction she said.
Treshawn Louis, a first year master’s student in early childhood education, said, “This has really enlighten me on the reality of sex, diseases and monogamous relationships.”
Jeannice Turner, President of Sigma Gamma Rho, said the discussion/workshop was one part of a week long founder’s celebration. “The theme for the week was body, mind and soul and this event addressed the body.
“We felt that with high rate of African-American women being infected with HIV, it needed to be talked about.”
Sigma Gamma Rho will continue its founder’s day celebrations Wednesday Nov. 15, Study Tips & Study Sessions, 7:30 – 10 pm (USU Rm. 305) and Thursday Nov. 16, Sigma Soul Food & Poets Lounge, 8 – 10 pm (USU Rm. 305)
