September 27 marks National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to highlight the impact of HIV among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) and to reflect on the progress made toward ending the epidemic in New York State.

Over the past decade, viral suppression among MSM living with diagnosed HIV in New York State have steadily improved. In 2023, 81% of MSM were virally suppressed, compared to 71% in 2015. 

Yet, disparities remain.

In 2023, White MSM (84%) and Asian and Hispanic MSM (82%) had the highest levels of viral suppression, while Black MSM (76%) and Multirace MSM (75%) were less likely to achieve viral suppression. These gaps underscore the ongoing need for continued implementation of programs that address systemic inequities in care and treatment outcomes, as emphasized in New York State's health equity platform.

Between 2015 and 2023, new HIV diagnoses among MSM declined by 27%, from 1,807 to 1,322. While this progress is encouraging, disparities by race and age remain. In 2023, 62% of MSM newly diagnosed achieved viral suppression within three months, with White MSM (67%) more likely to reach suppression than Black (59%) or Hispanic (61%) MSM. MSM aged 60+ had the highest suppression rates (75%), compared to 61% among those aged 20–29 and 57% among those aged 40–49.

The data demonstrate that while there has been overall progress, persistent inequities must be addressed to ensure that all MSM living with HIV can benefit equally from prevention, care, and treatment advances. Efforts to expand access to testing, improve linkage to care, and address all interconnected factors such as social determinants of health, remain critical to achieving the goals of New York State’s Ending the Epidemic initiative for all New Yorkers.