May 2012 HIV among Gay and Bisexual Men
Fast Facts
•• Gay and bisexual men are more severely affected by HIV than any other group in the United States (US).
•• Among all gay and bisexual men, blacks/African Americans bear the greatest disproportionate burden of HIV.
•• From 2006 to 2009, HIV infections among young black/African American gay and bisexual men increased 48%.
Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM)1 represent approximately 2% of the US population, yet are the
population most severely affected by HIV. In 2009, MSM accounted for 61% of all new HIV infections, and MSM with a history
of injection drug use (MSM-IDU) accounted for an additional 3% of new infections. That same year, young MSM accounted
for 69% of new HIV infections among persons aged 13–29 and 44% of infections among all MSM. At the end of 2009, an
estimated 441,669 (56%) persons living with an HIV diagnosis in the US were MSM or MSM-IDU.
The Numbers
New HIV Infections2
•• In 2009, MSM accounted for 61% of new HIV
infections in the US and 79% of infections among all
newly infected men. Compared with other groups,
MSM accounted for the largest numbers of new HIV
infections in 2009.
•• Among all MSM, white MSM accounted for 11,400
(39%) new HIV infections in 2009. The largest number
of new infections (3,400) occurred in those aged
40–49.
•• Among all MSM, black/African American MSM
accounted for 10,800 (37%) new HIV infections in
2009. Whereas new HIV infections were relatively
stable among MSM overall from 2006–2009, they
increased 34% among young MSM—an increase
largely due to a 48% increase among young black/
African American MSM aged 13–29.
•• Among all MSM, Hispanic/Latino MSM accounted for
6,000 (20%) new HIV infections in 2009. The largest
percentage of new infections (45%) occurred in those
aged 13–29.
HIV and AIDS Diagnoses3 and Deaths
•• In 2010, in the 46 states with long-term confidential,
name-based reporting, MSM accounted for 78% of
estimated HIV diagnoses among all males aged 13
years and older, and 61% of estimated diagnoses
among all persons receiving an HIV diagnosis that year.
•• At the end of 2009, of the estimated 784,701 persons living with an HIV diagnosis, 396,810, or 51%, were MSM. About 48%
of MSM living with an HIV diagnosis were white, 30% were black/African American, and 19% were Hispanic/Latino.