You can define the 'down low' any way you like.  To  us here at Connecting The Down Low Clues, it is a Deadly Liaison, Deceitful Lies, Dangerous Lust, Deceitful Narcisistic Living, Dangerous Deceptive Living, dangerous denial and Lies. 

"Living on the down low" refers to the behavior of men who sometimes have wives and very loving, intimate relationships with women, but have sex with other men in secret.  Yes, their women, their wives, or girlfriends, have no idea of the double lives they are leading.  While we are at it, this also refers to women who are in relationships with men, have husbands and are having secret sexual relationships with other women.

These people can be members of the clergy, Bishops, Pastors, Doctors, construction workers, business men, truck drivers, college students, young, old, black, white, any culture, nationality, anyone.  You cannot look at them and tell.  Yes, there is no 'tell' in the way they look.  They can be the most masculine, macho men around.  They do not consider themselves homosexual, and may not like to be around openly gay men in public.  They may even act and sound homophobic. Some of them are the worst homophobic sounding people you will ever meet.  Go figure. 

The 'down low' is a covert gay lifestyle and  isn't  just  found in the black community, even though that is where the term 'down low' or 'dl' is mainly used.   This harmful practice is as old as time, and is relevenat in every culture, ethnicity, socio economic and intellectual background.  It is happening in the youthful community and the older community.  This type of a behavior...the 'downlow' lifestyle; can also be life-threatening to you and your partner, and even your children.   

In 2004, AIDS was a leading cause of death for African-Americans ages  25 to 44.  Women,  college students and people over the age of 50 are at greater risk than ever before, and it is discussed in medical circles, that men living on the down low may be one reason why. Why? Because DL men are notrorious for practising unsafe sex.  

Maybe it is a mind thing.  If they avoid using condoms, they don't feel like they are doing anything dangerous.  The few seconds it takes to put a condom on will be enough time for them to really think about the act they are about to do.  So they prefer unsafe sex, just to justify their action in their mind.  Go figure.

Men and Women who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, are members of every community.  They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all races and ethnicities, all ages, all socioeconomic statuses, and from all parts of the country and the world.     
Homophobia,  stigma, and discrimination persist all over the world and some say, negatively affect  the health and well-being of gay, bisexual, other men who have sex with men (MSM), and other members of the LGBT community.   

We understand that homophobia, stigma, and  discrimination are social determinants of health that can affect physical and mental health,  whether MSM seek and are able to obtain health services, and the quality of the  services they receive.     

Even though acceptance of same-sex  relationships has been steadily increasing, some people continue their deceptive lifestyles to the detriment of their spouses.     

Lack of awareness of HIV status in their 'down low' partners, is hurting many women.  In a recent study of men who have sex with men (MSM) in five cities, 67% of the HIV infected black MSM were unaware of their infection.   Many at risk for HIV infection say they fear stigma more than knowing their status, choosing instead to hide their high-risk behavior, rather than seek counseling and testing.  

African Americans continue to experience higher rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) than any other race/ethnicity in the US. The presence of certain  STDs can significantly increase the chance of contracting HIV infection. A  person who has both HIV infection and certain STDs has a greater chance of  infecting others with HIV.