ABOUT US:
What is Brothers United?
Brothers United provides HIV/STD prevention, education and awareness to the African-American Gay / Bisexual, Same Gender Loving Men and Transgender communities of Marion County, Indianapolis. The organization is governed by a dedicated board comprising men and women of integrity.
What is Our Mission?
The prevention of the transmission of HIV/STD’s and to improve the quality of life of those infected and affected, by creating access to education and support services for the African-American community; To advocate for an effective and compassionate response to HIV and other STD’s.
What is Our History?
Larry Jimison, Trevor Bradley, and Levi Sutton founded brothers United in the summer of 1998, these three gentlemen invited other community gatekeepers together to form a basement discussion group that has grown into a viable and reputable resource and lifeline for the Gay/Bisexual and Transgender community. In 1999 a collaboration with Brothers United and the Indiana Minority Health Coalition was formed and funded under the centers for Disease Control and Prevention Funding Announcement 99091-A. The award was for direct HIV prevention and education to the African American Gay Community. Black Entertainment Television has twice funded the semi annual Brothers United “Prevention Jam” these events utilize a holistic approach that combines, the arts, pride, heritage and prevention to address the issues, needs and problems of African American men. The event was able to successfully fuse a party atmosphere to provide a safe space, education and community building. In total four events have been held and three thousand contacts have been made. In today’s society and especially among African American gay/bisexual/transgender people, “community” is a concept that must be created and or generated from virtually nothing. The expectation for the Prevention Jam was to create an experience that facilitated a sense of identity, empowerment, brotherhood and healing among African American gay/bisexual/transgender men.
In Indianapolis there is no official Black Gay Pride Celebration. The Prevention Jam is the closest to any Black Gay Pride celebration event in Indiana. The purpose of Black Gay Pride is to provide spiritual, cultural, education and social events to enlighten, unite and empower lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (“LGBT”) people of African descent. Brothers United is committed to producing an annual celebration of Black LGBT pride, as well as organizing a variety of activities throughout the year in Indianapolis, which promote and advocate for the spiritual, emotional and intellectual health and well-being of our related communities.
The agency has started several programs and interventions, such as the HIV positive discussion/support group that meets bi-monthly, a youth discussion group that meets bi-monthly, and a general discussion group that meets monthly, also a Prevention Case Management Program. We’re also working on a support group for partners, family members, loved ones and caregivers of HIV positive Gay/Bisexual/Transgender people.
