NEW YORK, NY September 12, 2007 —HIV infection rates rose in the city for the sixth straight year among gay men under 30. WNYC's Arun Venugopal has more on the latest report from the Health Department.

REPORTER: The increase was highest among young gay black men. They represent close to half of the 500 HIV cases diagnosed last year in the under-thirty age bracket. The city refers to the broader population as MSM, or men who have sex with men, simply because many don't identify as gay and face some of the greatest obstacles to coming out of the closet.

REPORTER: Tokes Osubu, with Gay Men of African Descent, says homophobia in the black community contributes to the low self esteem among gay black men. That in turn prevents them from being careful.

OSUBU: Before we begin to even say "Here's a condom, protect yourself." Why should I protect myself if, you know, everybody around me says I'm not worth anything? And I shouldn't be here.

REPORTER: Aside from encouraging safe sex, the city says it's working with black and Latino churches to reduce the stigma of being gay. It's also trying to encourage young men to wait before having sex. For WNYC, I'm Arun Venugopal.