Board proclaims Feb. 7 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

February 6, 2015

Maurice Evans of Cascade AIDS Project addresses the board during Thursday’s meeting.

Just one Oregonian in 50 is black. Yet, African Americans in the state are more than three times as likely as whites to contract HIV. 

Multnomah County along with a coalition of community partners gathered together at Thursday’s board meeting to proclaim Feb. 7 as the 15th annual National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Among the presenters was Multnomah County Health Department disease intervention specialist LaQuasha Thompson. Thompson’s job is to track HIV and other infections, and she is often the person who tests patients and gives them their results. She said the numbers show the people most at risk are young black gay men.

Thompson said educators should make sure teens get information about HIV prevention, that everyone knows where they can get tested, and that leadership at all levels start talking about the role that racism and poverty plays in public health.

Commissioner Loretta Smith brought forth Thursday’s proclamation, designating Feb. 7, 2015 as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Multnomah County.

“It’s an uncomfortable conversation that people don’t want to have. But it has to be had because people are dying because of it. We can’t ignore it anymore,” said Thompson. “And poverty is always in the background of all of this. If you’ve been homeless for several months or if you haven’t eaten, you’re going to prioritize where your resources go.”

Maurice Evans of Cascade AIDS Project told the board that black Oregonians are more at risk for HIV infection because they are more likely to experience poverty and homelessness.

“I would ask the commission to understand how homelessness is impacting people with HIV and how homelessness is driving new infections of HIV,” he said. “People have to have sex to survive, to have a place to sleep. Please, anything you can do to help us house homeless individuals will go a long way to help us in the fight against HIV.”

Tricia McClendon, who also serves HIV-positive African American clients at Cascade AIDS Project, saw four of her clients pass away last year. When she takes clients to appointments, she sometimes sees judgment creep into the eyes and voices of others. That only makes her a more fierce advocate for her clients.

“It takes everything within me not to jump across the counter... and wind up on Channels 2, 6 and 8 and maybe even Fox,” she said with a smile. “But then I take a deep breath and I say a prayer and I advocate for my client.”

That’s a weary battle to wage, she told the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners on Thursday.

“Many times, when the door was open for me to continue my work in HIV services, I didn’t want to,” the 20-year veteran in HIV advocacy said. “But my spiritual voice said, ‘It’s not about you. I have called you for a time such as this. And I will do my best to serve the people I have been called to serve.’”

Commissioner Loretta Smith, who brought forward the  proclamation, expressed appreciation for McClendon’s dedication to the work.

“We need you here serving folks,” Smith told McClendon at Thursday’s meeting. “I know that you’re doing the right thing. It’s obvious that you really, really care about the people in this work.”

Where you can get tested

Multnomah County’s STD Clinic: 426 SW Stark St., 6th Floor  Portland, Or. 503-988-3700

Cascade AIDS Project: 208 SW 5th Ave., Suite 800, Portland Or.   503-223-5907

There are many other providers who offer free or low-cost services. Check out the resource guide at Oregon Aids Hotline for a site near you.

Get help signing up for health insurance before the Feb. 15 enrollment deadline

Contact the Multnomah County enrollment team: 503-988-8753 or insurance.info@multco.us.

Go to an open enrollment assistance event the week of Feb. 9.