While sufficient information is unavailable as of yet regarding the motivation for the murders of Rashawn Brazell (19-year old Brooklyn resident found dismembered and his body parts separated) and Marvin Paige (discovered dead in his Bronx apartment with his throat slashed), the fact remains that two members of the Black Gay community are no longer with us.  No matter the reason, their lives have been violently extinguished.  While HIV/AIDS has continued to ravage our community and our spirits for over two decades, we must remember that violence threatens our existence individually and as a community as well.   

We at GMAD wish all of you to know that you matter!  We realize the risks associated with cruising the internet, telephone chat lines and other physical locations men in our community frequent for the purpose of anonymous hook-ups.  We hope you acknowledge these facts as well.  They include threats of robbery, sexual assault, violence, and sometimes murder.   It is our hope that we can all find ways to address our loneliness, depression, and sexual needs that don’t place our safety in jeopardy, but as an agency that has always been committed to embracing all its members in all their diversity, we offer these simple suggestions to reduce the risks of violence sometimes associated with hooking-up anonymously. 

Telephone Chat Lines

• Always meet in a public space.
• If you can, take someone you trust with you to get a visual description of the individual you are meeting.
• If this is not possible, give someone you trust as much of a description as possible (i.e. height, weight, complexion, location of hook-up, name/nickname, etc.) prior to the rendezvous.
• Agree to call someone at regular intervals during your tryst (recommended: 1-hour intervals).
• Should you invite someone over, have a friend there with you.  

Internet Chatrooms

• Limit the amount and types of information you give out in your profile.
• Attempt to frequent the same room(s).  This will allow you the opportunity to develop relationships with other frequent visitors and exchange information on others you might be contemplating engaging (i.e. have they been seen in the chat room before, does anyone have a physical description.
• Create a ‘neighborhood watch’