BET's Down Low Documentary Leaves Black Women with Unanswered Questions

How can I tell if my husband or boyfriend is on the down low? What signs should I look for? These are the unanswered questions uppermost in every Black woman’s mind, after viewing BET’s documentary, “The Down Low Exposed.” Infidelity expert Ruth Houston's Down Low Dozen tip sheet has the answers.

(PRWEB) March 30, 2006 -- “BET’s documentary on the down low (The Down Low Exposed) provides a much needed wake-up call.” says infidelity expert Ruth Houston. “But it leaves unanswered the question that is uppermost in every Black woman’s mind after viewing this documentary -- How can I tell if my man is on the down low?”

After acknowledging at the beginning of the film, that signs of the down low are almost invisible, the documentary gave no guidelines on what to look for.

Speaking candidly about her recent divorce from gay ex-husband Jonathan Plummer who admitted to living on the down low, author Terry McMillan says people wonder why she wasn’t able to tell.

Says Houston, “That a savvy, street smart woman like Terry McMillan was unable to tell that her husband of 6 1/2 years was on the down low, drives home the point of how subtle the signs are and how easy they are to overlook.”

According to Ruth Houston, author of Is He Cheating on You? – 829 Telltale Signs and founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com, there are two common myths that prevent Black women from being able to accurately assess whether or not a man is on the down low. Says Houston, “These myths put Black women at a major disadvantage when it comes to protecting themselves against heterosexually contracted HIV/AIDS.”

Myth #1 - There are no signs when a man is on the down low.

Regarding this myth, Houston, who has spent 11 years researching and documenting signs of infidelity says, “Since, the down low is basically another form of infidelity -- same sex infidelity -- many of the same signs of infidelity apply, In addition to the general signs of infidelity, there are specific signs which indicate sexual involvement with another man. Knowing what to look for is the key. In order to protect themselves against heterosexually-contracted HIV/AIDS, Black women need to know what these signs are."

Myth #2 – You can tell a “down low man” by the way he looks or acts.

Commenting on the second myth, Houston says, “You CANNOT identify a man on the down low by his mannerisms, or by the way he walks, talks, dresses, or acts. Too many Black women are relying on this method, and innocent Black men are being falsely accused. At the other end of the spectrum, Black women are having unprotected sex with men on the down low because ‘he didn’t look like he was gay.’”

"As a Black woman, and an infidelity expert / researcher, I feel I have a two-fold obligation to set the record straight. "says Houston. "Black women need accurate information on how to tell if a man is on the down low so they can protect themselves against heterosexually-contracted HIV/AIDS.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black women account for approximately 70 percent of new AIDS cases. AIDS is now one of the top three causes of death for Black women aged 25-34. Statistics indicate that 67% of Black women with HIV contracted it from heterosexual sex.

“Black women are contracting HIV/AIDS in record numbers from husbands and boyfriends on the down low.” says Houston. "Mistakenly assuming they are in monogamous relationships, these women trust their men, and put themselves at risk by engaging in unprotected sex.”

How to Tell if a Man is on the Down Low

As a public service to Black women who want specific guidelines on what to look for, Houston has compiled a 2-part tip sheet called the Down Low Dozen.

Part 1 of the Down Low Dozen tip sheet describes Houston’s discreet 3-step process which Black women can use to find out if their husbands or boyfriends are on down low. It includes 12 specific telltale signs -- the down low dozen -- which, in conjunction with other signs of infidelity, indicate a man’s sexual involvement with other men.    

Part 2 of the Down Low Dozen tip sheet contains two dozen practical suggestions for the woman who finds out that her husband or boyfriend is on the down low. It includes advice on what to do, how to confront him about his down low status, how to protect herself sexually, and where to get help. For a free copy of the Down Low Dozen tip sheet, send an e-mail to (DownLowDozen at gmail.com) with “DL Dozen-prw” in the subject line. For more information about Black women and the down low, visit www.DownLowDozen.com

About Ruth Houston:

Infidelity expert Ruth Houston is the author of Is He Cheating on You? – 829 Telltale Signs, and the founder of www.InfidelityAdvice.com She is frequently called on by the media to comment on infidelity issues in the news, and has been quoted in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, the New York Post, AOL Black Voices, the Chicago Tribune, the Washington Times, the Houston Chronicle, iVillage, MSN Lifestyle, UPI, Newhouse News Service, Reuters, and numerous other print and online media.

She has been a guest on The Today Show, Good Day New York, Telemundo, The Michael Baisden Show, The Breakfast Club, TalkAmerica, Power Talk FM Radio, Say it Loud, BBC, CBC and over 200 other radio and TV talk shows in the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, South America, Australia, and New Zealand.

To interview infidelity expert Ruth Houston or have her speak to your group, call 718 592-6039 or e-mail (InfidelityExpert at gmail.com)

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