Alex
Remember Ryan White. Dec 6, 1971–April 8, 1990
Posted on: 04/07/2010 21:23
I am thinking of Ryan tonight, the anniversary of his last night. He was a hero to me. From the moment he was refused admittance to school, he has been an inspiration to me.
I am also thinking of his family.
I am also remembering all the people I have been privileged to be with on their last night. I am still grieving.
Accessiblechurch.ca is dedicated to Ryan White and all people living with illness or disability who have faced discrimination because of ignorance and fear.
"Even at church, people would not shake my hand." (1)
Ryan was a boy living with hemophilia, he became infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment and was diagnosed with AIDS at the age of 13 on December 17 1984. After being out of school for months, he asked to return, but was told by school officials that he could not.
On June 30 1985, a formal request to permit re-admittance to school was denied. White's school, Western Middle School in Russiaville, faced enormous pressure from many parents and faculty to bar him from the school after his diagnosis became widely known. 117 parents (from a school of 360 total students) and 50 teachers signed a petition asking the school to ban White from school. The principal agreed, and when appealed to the school board they also agreed and continued to bar him from school..
Jeanne White, Ryan's mother said people on the street would often yell, "we know you're queer" at Ryan. Many threats followed, as well as demonstrations outside his home and school.
When a bullet was fired through the Whites' living room window, the family had to leave their home. His family moved to Cicero, Indiana, where White enrolled at Hamilton Heights High School. On August 31, 1987, a Ryan was greeted by school principal Tony Cook, school system superintendent Bob G. Carnal, and a handful of students who had been educated about AIDS and were unafraid to shake Ryan's hand. Ryan died on Palm Sunday, April 8, 1990.
Ryan on fear and Prejudice on the Phil Donahue Show. Followed by Michael jackson Video on Ryan
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Comments
Alex
President Obama on Ryan
Posted on: 04/07/2010 21:49
President Obama on Ryan White.
jlin
Alex, That is a beautiful
Posted on: 04/07/2010 21:55
Alex,
That is a beautiful tribute by Mr. Jackson. This hasn't been heavily in my mind but I can see that for so many it would be really huge. I was raised by a feminist who had been raised by a feminist. From an early age we had been taught ( my brother as well) to use condoms as contraception even if the pill was being used. When Herpes raged and then HIV raged in the late 70's and early 80's the feminists knew immediately why it seemed that only the Gay male population was being infected . . . because most sexually active women knew to use condoms and this information was years and years making the media. It was terribly weird but such is the power of the patriarchy and RC church!
So many lives lost, so scary. I used to think of it as the war on our generation.
MorningCalm
The story of Ryan White is a
Posted on: 04/07/2010 22:17
The story of Ryan White is a moving one indeed. There is much to be learned from it.
Still, what exactly is it you think makes him a "hero"?
Alex
Many things make him a hero.
Posted on: 04/07/2010 22:22
Many things make him a hero. However he was most heroic, when he stood up and demanded equal rights (when he went back to school).
Also while knowing fighting this meant coming out with HIV in 1984 at the age of 13 to the whole world.
The he continued to be the face of HIV to many and used that to educate many people about the ways people became infected, and did not. Both reducing stigma for people with HIV, and also saving many teen lives with the information they needed to protect themselves.
Alex
He was the Rosa Parks of
Posted on: 04/07/2010 22:33
He was the Rosa Parks of HIV, and the Martin Luthor King of HIV as he was the AIDS activistthat said "no" I will fight" and his activism lead us to the treatments that saved my life and that of millions.
He directly reached more people than any other AIDS activist, from 10 of millions of teens, to Presidents, and Congressmen with his education and political activity.
jon71
Alex wrote: President Obama
Posted on: 04/08/2010 05:26
President Obama on Ryan White.
Thank you for sharing that. That was so powerful, I misted up. I think people are getting complacent about the issue of A.I.D.S. and we need to wake up.
B.t.w. I wanted to put this video on my facebook but don't know how. Copy and paste didn't work. What should I do? Thanks.
Marzo
It's a very tragic that such
Posted on: 04/10/2010 06:49
It's a very tragic that such cruelty would be shown to a sick child and his family.
Alex
That is true, but it is also
Posted on: 04/10/2010 16:04
That is true, but it is also note worthy what this boy of 13, would do with what life handed him.
As civil rights is to AIDS he was the Rosa Parks of HIV, and the Martin Luther King of HIV . however I and others got the roles of being the Obama's of HIV. That is we solved one big problem, have to still live with the ravages of the last 20 years, nothing is easy any more, but we got to live. Live to have hope.
Thank You Ryan and all the other AIDS Activists of the eighties and nineties. I am living what you all hoped to achieve for everyone with HIV. A life.