Dr. Marjorie Hill
interviewed by Sylvia Rhue
The first thing you notice is the regal bearing. At 5’10 and 3/4’ she walks with the august presence of a person of State. An ambassador. And indeed she is. She is an Ambassador of Compassion, Competence, and Charity. She is the first African American to become the CEO of a major LGBT organization. She has a Ph. D. in Psychology. She is dedicated, determined, and dynamic. She is Dr. Marjorie Hill, the head of New York’s Gay Men’s Health Crisis organization.
In February 2006, I had an opportunity to spend a few minutes with Dr. Hill at her office in the heart of New York City. Outside the weather was below zero, but inside there was warmth, comfort, and welcome.
SR: How does it feel to be here (At the helm of the GMHC, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis)
MH: I am phenomenally happy. This is the job I have been preparing for all of my life. Simultaneously, it is a very hugh, incredibly enormous task. 15,000 clients, national and international. “First in the Fight” (GMHC’s motto).
Where are we? Not as far as I would like. There is treatment, but still not 100% access. There is not 100% access of information. Stigma and discrimination abound, particularly in terms of people of color.
SR: Tell me a little about your background.
MH: It seems so corny but it is true, I grew up in Bedford Stuyvesant (Brooklyn, NY). Raised in a Black Baptist church by working class parents, part of the values from my own upbringing are that we have an obligation to make my corner of the world a better place. Now I have a big corner. I feel incredibly blessed to do work that I find to be spiritually fulfilling. I could do a lot of things, but I want to do this. The challenge of the last few months is really about how we do it on a team.
SR: What are some of the greatest barriers to HIV/AIDS prevention?
MH: Coretta Scott King said that homophobia is one of the greatest barriers to HIV prevention. She didn’t mean just Black gay people. People think it’s a gay thing. They are in a kind of active denial that prevents women and others from dealing with the truth. Dealing with the reality of their possible risk. I think that we are not 100% trustful of our medical institutions. You have providers who never talk about sex and sexuality. The number 1 cause of death for Black women between the ages of 24-44 is AIDS. I have never had a health provider ask me if I have had an HIV test.
SR: What are the major driving factors of HIV/AIDS in African American communities?
MH: I would say that the drivers of health disparities in African American communities are:
- Racism
- Poverty
- Unequal Access
- Unequal information
- Sexism
Some African Americans may think, “If I don’t feel equal, I’m not going to feel entitled to quality care and quality treatment”. So many African Americans don’t feel valued by society, so many feel “it doesn’t matter if I don’t wear a condom”. So many are not in a supportive relationship.
We as a society have not done enough to convince our old and our young that they are valuable. Heaven is wonderful, but we have to help people believe in the here and now.
It is also particularly important that young people are valued today, to understand their gifts and potential today. Encouraged to live today. So much HIV prevention is about self esteem, self value.
SR: Where does the Church come in on this?
MH: The Church needs to struggle and overcome its own issues around sex and sexuality. This is very difficult and very necessary. We can hope that teens delay serial sexual experiences, but we know that they are starting younger, with more partners.
That’s reality. Teens need information, guidance and support. They need reality based information
SR: What about lesbians and AIDS? What information can you give us?
MH: We have the Lesbian and AIDS Project. We see that there are lesbians who identify as lesbians, but on occasion have sex with men. There is a great deal of fluidity around sexual identity and sexual behavior. Younger people are much more fluid in their sexual expressions than us old timers. The true challenge is that sometimes it feels like there is apathy around HIV. We may be tired, but this is not the time to give up the fight. Look at the statistics: 46% of Black gay men are HIV+. This is not acceptable. Amongst all women, Black women are about 60% of the AIDS cases. In New York City, a Black woman with AIDS is about 9 times more likely to die than a white woman with AIDS.
SR: Those statistics are frightening. GMHC are doing a terrific job educating people.
Let’s talk about GMHC for a minute. It is now in it’s 25th year, correct?
MH: Yes, this is the anniversary of our 25th year. The success of GMHC in it’s 25th year is not solely contingent on my energy, my tenacity , my will or my passion. GMHCS success is contingent on our incredible staff, our wonderful volunteers, which are in the hundreds. We couldn’t do it without them.
Also there are our clients who challenge me, inspire me, who I am so proud to stand with and behind.
We are celebrating our 25th Anniversary in March with our Heroes Honors Dinner.
SR: What is the greatest satisfaction with this job?
MH: While a lot of what I do is the external, like TV and radio interviews, fundraising, etc, the greatest satisfaction is when a client is telling someone else about their achievements, i.e. a woman getting her GED, a client getting a standing ovation at an AIDS walk. I get to ride on the elevator with someone who says, “these pantry bags are going to be the difference between me and my kids starving.” African American clients saying to me, “I am proud that you are leading this agency.”
I facilitate a women’s support group here for women who are long time survivors. It is challenging, but I get so much more than I give. They are 10-12 sharp women. I am so impressed with their resiliency. Some have not yet disclosed t their significant family members due to the certainty of being ostracized. None have disclosed to their employer.
There are realistic reasons for that.
SR: They fear losing their jobs.
MH: Yes.
SR: Well, congratulations to GMHC on their 25th year helping, educating, and feeding people in great need. Congratulations to you for your work and outstanding contributions!
MH: Thank you.
