Minister Pens Book "The Church Has AIDS"

 KANSAS CITY, MO -- Minister Gerald Palmer, MSW, licensed minister, radio talk show host and respected social worker, looks at religious based heterosexism and religiosity and their impact over such issues as sexuality and sexual orientation in the African American community. The book, The Church Has AIDS: Essays on Sexuality, Sexual Orientation, Taboos, targets churches, HIV/AIDS activists, social workers, public health experts, policy and the general public. 

The Church Has AIDS is made up of short essays written over a three year period, that explores the social issues and stigmas that fuel the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the African American community. It is a very personal and real look at religious based heterosexism and religiosity and their impact over such issues as sexuality and sexual orientation. During a period of three years Minister Palmer produced and hosted a gospel radio talk show that addressed HIV/AIDS from a Christian perspective; it was during this time that he realized that religious based heterosexism and homophobia were impeding the church's response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in African American community.