On Wednesday in West Palm Beach, more than 50 people gathered at the county gay and lesbian community center for a dinner marking the 8th National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

"We've divided the epidemic into groups, by skin color, by language, by who we love," said Chris Lacharite, medical services director at the Compass center. "The only way we will ever conquer this epidemic is if we all do it together."

Last year, Florida health authorities issued "Out in the Open," a report on HIV/AIDS among men who have sex with men (MSM). It maintains that one in 13 black MSM in Palm Beach County has HIV. Because its population estimates of the number of black men in the county may be inflated, the real proportion might be even higher, Lacharite said.

"We need help in reaching African-American [MSM]," said Lacharite. "We've tried all our usual venues."

HIV/AIDS has largely been ignored in the political primary contests, said Sandra White, wife of Bishop Lewis White of United Deliverance Church, which began working with Compass in recent years. "This is an issue that needs to be talked about," she said, adding that federal funding cuts are causing immediate problems for some AIDS groups.

Those cuts and political apathy were also cited as reasons for coalition-building by the regional minority AIDS coordinator, Lorenzo Robertson.

There are other events commemorating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day in Riviera Beach, including a Saturday town hall meeting and a health fair and motorcycle ride on Sunday. The town hall will be held 1:30 p.m. at Hurst Chapel AME Church, 1617 Silver Beach Road, and the health fair and ride are set for 1-4 p.m., 1621 Blue Heron Blvd.

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