Orlando's black gays, lesbians chart quest for acceptance

At an early age, Jay-Michael Jarrod knew that he was gay and that because he was also black his life would be an odyssey of rejection.

[No Sympathy]

I grew up in the New York area and gays were so assimilated into the city's culture that you did not know who you were talking to. As a female, I dont have a problem with gays, but when it comes to lesbians, I want to know who I am talking to and confiding with. There is an honesty factor. If you portray yourself as straight then you turn out to be gay, I feel betrayed. If you are gay, let people know so you dont go around tricking people. Better yet, move to Atlanta.

[Cold Realist]

Am I supposed to feel sympathy for people who will have sex with anything thats got a pulse and wonder why they have AIDS? Perhaps if some kept it in their pants they wouldnt have this problem? Or perhaps if they stuck to one partner instead of trying to do half the city in a weekend they wouldnt be at as much risk. Im sorry, but being promiscuous and gay is just begging for HIV. Its just as big a risk for promiscuous hetero's but the article also mentions "bi" (down low) men so they are really playing with dynamite. I cant feel sympathy for people who go out of their way to self destruct.