“Let Us Go into the House of the Lord”: Participation in African American Churches among Young African American Men who Have Sex with Men

Abstract

Describes the church involvement of young African American men who have sex with men (MSM). Reports data secured from 76 individual semistructured interviews with men between the ages of 18 and 29 who reported recent sexual behavior with other men in Atlanta and Chicago that revealed high levels of involvement in African American churches and its impact on self-esteem and sexual behavior. Notes that participation in African American churches encourages sexual secrecy and is associated with decreased frequencies of same-sex contacts. Suggests that African American clergy and other church leaders can initiate dialogue with church-going MSM and redirect ministerial efforts to foster inclusive, nurturing religious communities that no longer marginalize these African American men.