Latino gay men in the US

The ever changing mosaic of Latino demographics in the US creates unique challenges to address health disparities of the population, especially when it comes to HIV prevention needs. Latinos are the largest and fastest growing ethno racial minority group in the US, experiencing a 43% growth between 2000 and 2010. Data also show that Latinos are one of the fastest growing populations at risk for HIV transmission:

• Latino men who have sex with men (MSM*) represent 81% of new infections among Latino men, and 19% among all MSM2
• Latinos are 16% of the US population, but make up 17% of living HIV/ AIDS cases and 20% of new HIV infections each year
• Youth (ages 13-29) accounted for 45% of new HIV infections among Latino MSM. In light of these data there is a need to identify culturally-specific health concerns of Latino gay men so that effective interventions may be developed to address current and prevent future disparities.

The US National HIV/AIDS Strategy highlights the call for HIV programs that reduce health inequities among both ethnoracial and sexual minority populations. Latino gay men have distinct cross-cultural identities that place them into both prioritized categories.