On September 27, AIDSVu recognizes National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD). Founded in 2008 by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA), NGMHAAD is an opportunity to recognize the disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS on gay and bisexual men across the country.
In 2023, 25,909 people were newly diagnosed with HIV attributed to male-to-male sexual contact, representing 66% of all new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. Among males, 81% of new diagnoses were attributed to male-to-male sexual contact. More than half (51%) of these new diagnoses occurred in the Southern region of the U.S.
By age, men ages 25–34 made up the largest share of new diagnoses among MSM in 2023, accounting for 41%. Young men ages 13–24 accounted for 23%.
Racial and ethnic disparities persist among gay and bisexual men. From 2008 to 2023, new diagnoses among white MSM decreased by 34%. Over the same period, diagnoses among Black MSM fell by just 5%, while diagnoses among Hispanic MSM increased by 52%.
In 2023, more than 658,000 people living with HIV in the U.S. had acquired it through male-to-male sexual contact—58% of all people living with HIV. Among men specifically, MSM accounted for 75% of all men living with HIV.
The HIV care continuum also shows gaps: in 2023, 84% of MSM were linked to care, 78% received care, and 70% achieved viral suppression. These outcomes varied by race, with Black MSM less likely to be virally suppressed (65%) compared to white MSM (74%) and Hispanic MSM (69%).
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men continue to experience HIV stigma due to their sexuality. On AIDSVu’s Stigma Dashboard, which tracks familial, societal, and healthcare HIV stigma among MSM, 25% of MSM in Georgia reported feeling scared to be in public places due to their sexuality, according to analysis by Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health.
NGMHAAD raises awareness about the significant challenges stemming from racism, homophobia, transphobia, stigma, and other social determinants of health faced by gay, bisexual, and other MSM as they navigate HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment. Join AIDSVu in recognizing this awareness day with the materials below.
#NGMHAAD
Explore our Resources
AIDSVu’s infographics encourage new ways of visualizing the HIV epidemic among the gay, bisexual, and MSM communities. Share them on social, print them out as one-pagers, and add them to your presentations.
Infographic
Update your LinkedIn, Facebook, and X banners to show your support for #NGMHAAD.
Share these social media posts and infographics on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook with #NGMHAAD to help spark conversations about HIV among MSM communities.
Post 1
In 2023, gay, bisexual, and other men who reported male-to-male sexual contact accounted for 66% of new #HIV diagnoses in the U.S.
This #NGMHAAD, explore the impact of HIV on MSM and access resources through AIDSVu’s toolkit: https://aidsvu.org/gay-mens-hiv-aids-awareness-day-toolkit
Post 2
Racial disparities persist: From 2008–2023, new HIV diagnoses among white MSM decreased 34%, while diagnoses among Hispanic MSM increased 52%.
This #NGMHAAD, join AIDSVu in spotlighting inequities and advancing prevention: https://aidsvu.org/gay-mens-hiv-aids-awareness-day-toolkit/