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Laying the Groundwork for an HIV Prevention Intervention: A Descriptive Profile of the Los Angeles House and Ball Communities

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Abstract

African American young men who have sex with men (AAYMSM) represent the largest proportion of new HIV infections among MSM. While evidence-based interventions are lacking, all too often HIV interventions are implemented in a community without thoroughly understanding its needs, risks and assets. AAYMSM are not homogenous; subgroups exist that may require different approaches to be effective. The House and Ball communities represent one such subgroup. A community-engaged, mixed-methods approach was used. Participant observations, qualitative interviews (N = 26), and a survey at House/Ball events (N = 252) were completed. Survey data broadly describe the community. For example: 69 % of survey respondents identify as gay; 25 % as bisexual; 13 % reported recent use of ecstasy and 11 % recently participated in sex exchange. The depth of qualitative data is key for intervention development. For example, while the survey provides broad descriptions of respondents’ involvement in the House and Ball communities, leaders provided in-depth descriptions of the structure of the House and Ball scene—something vital to the development of HIV prevention programs within these communities. This kind of rigorous study is recommended prior to implementing an intervention. Findings are discussed in relation to leveraging the communities’ supportive aspects to design culturally relevant HIV prevention programs.

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Notes

  1. This smaller percentage may be due to the limited number of Ball events in Los Angeles during the 3-month reporting period.

  2. An example from an actual category list of a recent Ball—this indicates that the walker must emulate the style of late designer Alexander McQueen while wearing high-heeled pumps.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health (RO1 DA22968). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institute on Drug Abuse or the National Institutes of Health. The authors would like to acknowledge the contributions of the staff members who contributed to collection, management, analysis and review of these data: Veronica Abernathy, Teela Davis, Deandre Ellison, Judith Grout, Cody Haight, Nefe Iredia, Tattiya Kliengklom, Sylvia Lambrechts, Donna Luebbe, Miles McNeeley, Griselda Monroy, Heather Reyes, Marcia Reyes, Luis Salazar, Milton Smith, Flor Vindel, and Carolyn Wong. The authors would also like to acknowledge the insightful and practical commentary of the members of the P3 Advisory Board, the Mothers and Fathers from the: House of Allure, House of Chanel, House of Ebony, House of Escada, House of Etro Galliano, House of Herrera, House of Garcon, House of Gotti, House of Lauren van Cartier, House of Mizarahi, House of Miyake Mugler, House of Revlon, House of Rodeo, and the House of Ultra Omni. We are especially grateful to all of the parents, leaders and members of the Los Angeles House and Ball communities for their commitment and willingness to share their diverse and often profound personal experiences as well as welcoming us into a part of their lives.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Community, Health Outcomes and Intervention Research Program, The Saban Research Institute, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, 6430W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 1500, Los Angeles, CA, 900208, USA

    Michele D. Kipke, Katrina Kubicek, Jocelyn Supan, George Weiss & Sheree Schrager

  2. Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Michele D. Kipke

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  1. Michele D. Kipke
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  2. Katrina Kubicek
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  3. Jocelyn Supan
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  4. George Weiss
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  5. Sheree Schrager
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Correspondence to Katrina Kubicek.

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Kipke, M.D., Kubicek, K., Supan, J. et al. Laying the Groundwork for an HIV Prevention Intervention: A Descriptive Profile of the Los Angeles House and Ball Communities. AIDS Behav 17, 1068–1081 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0227-9

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