Awareness
Despite increased public awareness and acceptance, pervasive ignorance continues to surround HIV/AIDS, generating toxic stigmatism as the disease rapidly spreads, causing numerous individuals to suffer unnecessarily. Indeed, the ensuing inadequate levels of concern for an otherwise easily preventable disease have inarguably created a pandemic—as Hispanic and African American communities exemplify. Not until heterosexual males such as basketball player Magic Johnson contracted HIV that the face of HIV/AIDS no longer became limited to that of junkies and homosexuals. Nonetheless, up until then afflicted individuals typically fought their losing battles as alienated members of their own communities; and even in today’s seemingly modern society, it still largely holds true. As a result, historically insufficient government intervention and societal acceptance paved the way for activist individuals and groups to fill the void for HIV/AIDS education and treatment.
For instance, before Magic Johnson announced he was HIV-positive, Michael Callen, a homosexual singer, became diagnosed with HIV in 1982. During this time, HIV/AIDS was still a poorly understood disease, often incorrectly deemed the equivalent of a death sentence and only applicable to the gay community. Consequently, ignorance and stigmatism prevented needed government funding and assistance, forcing Callen to fight the disease alone while shouldering the responsibility of raising awareness. Callen would spend the next eleven years of his life writing informational HIV/AIDS books, founding the People with AIDS Coalition, and encouraging potentially helpful drug trials. In Surviving AIDS, Callen assembles fourteen individual stories of HIV/AIDS survival to shatter the myth that the disease is an immediate death sentence (1990). In How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach, Callen educates the public about the necessity of safe sex in the prevention of HIV/AIDs (1983). Then through People with AIDs Coalition, Callen helped ensure the provision of a toll-free phone line and a monthly P.W.A. Coalition Newsline, all designed to offer information on HIV/AIDs prevention and treatment. Lastly, Callen helped oversee drug trials on aerosolized pentamidine along with other drugs because of the belief that urgency was lacking in the research of HIV/AIDs treatments. Though Callen eventually passed away in 1993, his contributions to the HIV/AIDs community have been substantial.
Another notable activist that helped dispel the false notion that HIV/AIDs is a homosexual disease and only contracted through physical intercourse is Ryan White. A hemophiliac who contracted HIV/AIDs through a contaminated blood transfusion at thirteen, White immediately became subjected to exclusionary treatment by his peers and society overall. In 1984, the superintendent of Kukomo, Indiana banned White from attending his classes because of the prevailing belief that HIV/AIDS could be spread through casual contact. The success obtained from winning his right to attend school was a poor improvement, as White then became forced to secure his seventh grade lessons through a telephone at home (1992). By 1987, the exclusion from society had become so dire that White’s family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where students similarly avoided White. Yet White remained optimistic and determined to prove that he was a “regular kid” (26) (1992). White’s unending struggle to be understood and treated fairly generated national attention, including that of President Reagan’s. When White passed away in 1990, Present Bush honored him in planting a tree in Indianapolis, adding that his death “reaffirms that we as a people must pledge to continue the fight—his fight against this dreaded disease” (26) (1992). Such an indelible impression had White made upon the American public as an AIDs activist that the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDs Resources Emergency (CARE) Act is named in his honor.
While Michael Callen and Ryan White initiated the advancement of AIDs research and treatment, it was Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s admission of the disease in 1991 that also substantiated the reality that HIV/AIDs victims can be anyone and everyone. Indeed, before Johnson admitted his disease, HIV/AIDs was viewed as a low national priority; but following the admission, he was able to influence President Bush to shift gears and become more productive in the fight against HIV/AIDs. Simultaneously however, Johnson’s popularity and endearing persona could not shield him either from being subjected to alienation by his more ignorant peers. Months after retirement, Johnson decided to return to basketball to participate in the 1992 NBA All Star game, the 1992 Summer Olympics, and several Pre-Season games. Unfortunately, his return was cut short when several players made complaints about playing with or against Johnson. One particular teammate, Sam Perkins, “wished Magic would just go away” (2) (New York Times, 1992). Several players such as Karl Malone expressed their reservations of playing anywhere in the presence of Johnson if there was even a minute chance of contracting the disease—despite the NBA releasing prior information that AIDS is not spread through physical contact (New York Times, 1992). But despite the harsh treatment, Johnson’s power and status allowed him to come into contact with AIDs researcher David Ho, the pioneer of modern HIV/AIDS treatment. Now, instead of consuming over a dozen various pills a day, individuals only need to take a few pills. Thus, Johnson’s work as an AIDs activist cannot be underestimated. As a celebrity, Johnson possessed the resources and connections to spur a demand for improved drug treatments; and then by doing so, mobilize public support for greater government intervention. After all, unlike Michael Callen and Ryan White, Magic Johnson is still alive and healthy.
Overall, these three individuals’ impressive activism validates two important yet somewhat contradictory realizations: that activism is crucial to raising public awareness, but successful activism must also be supplemented by government support and assistance— if the common person is to also survive. Activism can only do so much to eliminate the stigmatism stemming from decades’ worth of false perceptions and unfounded fears. However, the government is an institution positioned to ensure the rights of the marginalized through legislation and the distribution of funds to the appropriate areas. The government’s involvement is thus paramount since further misplaced fears will only then become a detriment to progress. Indeed, HIV/AIDS does not need to be a death sentence; but it does become one when we choose to stigmatize it.
For instance, before Magic Johnson announced he was HIV-positive, Michael Callen, a homosexual singer, became diagnosed with HIV in 1982. During this time, HIV/AIDS was still a poorly understood disease, often incorrectly deemed the equivalent of a death sentence and only applicable to the gay community. Consequently, ignorance and stigmatism prevented needed government funding and assistance, forcing Callen to fight the disease alone while shouldering the responsibility of raising awareness. Callen would spend the next eleven years of his life writing informational HIV/AIDS books, founding the People with AIDS Coalition, and encouraging potentially helpful drug trials. In Surviving AIDS, Callen assembles fourteen individual stories of HIV/AIDS survival to shatter the myth that the disease is an immediate death sentence (1990). In How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach, Callen educates the public about the necessity of safe sex in the prevention of HIV/AIDs (1983). Then through People with AIDs Coalition, Callen helped ensure the provision of a toll-free phone line and a monthly P.W.A. Coalition Newsline, all designed to offer information on HIV/AIDs prevention and treatment. Lastly, Callen helped oversee drug trials on aerosolized pentamidine along with other drugs because of the belief that urgency was lacking in the research of HIV/AIDs treatments. Though Callen eventually passed away in 1993, his contributions to the HIV/AIDs community have been substantial.
Another notable activist that helped dispel the false notion that HIV/AIDs is a homosexual disease and only contracted through physical intercourse is Ryan White. A hemophiliac who contracted HIV/AIDs through a contaminated blood transfusion at thirteen, White immediately became subjected to exclusionary treatment by his peers and society overall. In 1984, the superintendent of Kukomo, Indiana banned White from attending his classes because of the prevailing belief that HIV/AIDS could be spread through casual contact. The success obtained from winning his right to attend school was a poor improvement, as White then became forced to secure his seventh grade lessons through a telephone at home (1992). By 1987, the exclusion from society had become so dire that White’s family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where students similarly avoided White. Yet White remained optimistic and determined to prove that he was a “regular kid” (26) (1992). White’s unending struggle to be understood and treated fairly generated national attention, including that of President Reagan’s. When White passed away in 1990, Present Bush honored him in planting a tree in Indianapolis, adding that his death “reaffirms that we as a people must pledge to continue the fight—his fight against this dreaded disease” (26) (1992). Such an indelible impression had White made upon the American public as an AIDs activist that the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDs Resources Emergency (CARE) Act is named in his honor.
While Michael Callen and Ryan White initiated the advancement of AIDs research and treatment, it was Earvin “Magic” Johnson’s admission of the disease in 1991 that also substantiated the reality that HIV/AIDs victims can be anyone and everyone. Indeed, before Johnson admitted his disease, HIV/AIDs was viewed as a low national priority; but following the admission, he was able to influence President Bush to shift gears and become more productive in the fight against HIV/AIDs. Simultaneously however, Johnson’s popularity and endearing persona could not shield him either from being subjected to alienation by his more ignorant peers. Months after retirement, Johnson decided to return to basketball to participate in the 1992 NBA All Star game, the 1992 Summer Olympics, and several Pre-Season games. Unfortunately, his return was cut short when several players made complaints about playing with or against Johnson. One particular teammate, Sam Perkins, “wished Magic would just go away” (2) (New York Times, 1992). Several players such as Karl Malone expressed their reservations of playing anywhere in the presence of Johnson if there was even a minute chance of contracting the disease—despite the NBA releasing prior information that AIDS is not spread through physical contact (New York Times, 1992). But despite the harsh treatment, Johnson’s power and status allowed him to come into contact with AIDs researcher David Ho, the pioneer of modern HIV/AIDS treatment. Now, instead of consuming over a dozen various pills a day, individuals only need to take a few pills. Thus, Johnson’s work as an AIDs activist cannot be underestimated. As a celebrity, Johnson possessed the resources and connections to spur a demand for improved drug treatments; and then by doing so, mobilize public support for greater government intervention. After all, unlike Michael Callen and Ryan White, Magic Johnson is still alive and healthy.
Overall, these three individuals’ impressive activism validates two important yet somewhat contradictory realizations: that activism is crucial to raising public awareness, but successful activism must also be supplemented by government support and assistance— if the common person is to also survive. Activism can only do so much to eliminate the stigmatism stemming from decades’ worth of false perceptions and unfounded fears. However, the government is an institution positioned to ensure the rights of the marginalized through legislation and the distribution of funds to the appropriate areas. The government’s involvement is thus paramount since further misplaced fears will only then become a detriment to progress. Indeed, HIV/AIDS does not need to be a death sentence; but it does become one when we choose to stigmatize it.