Today, HIV in America overwhelmingly affects more poor, young black and Latino men who have sex with men than any other community in the United States. But it’s not just a gay man’s disease—research shows that the Latino community at large is statistically more vulnerable to the virus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Latinos account for nearly 21 percent of new HIV cases each year, even though we only account for 16 percent of the U.S. population. Studies also show that Latinos are the last to get tested for HIV and the first to die from AIDS-related complications. Stigma and denial often fuel the epidemic in our communities. But overcoming that fear, getting tested for HIV earlier and then connecting to care after a positive test result can help reverse these troubling statistics. Log onto poz.com to learn more about HIV.

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