Ryan White

Ryan Wayne White (December 6, 1971 - April 8, 1990) was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a symbol of the struggle against HIV/AIDS discrimination within the United States. His story drew significant attention to the misperceptions and stigmatization surrounding HIV/AIDS during the 1980s.

Early Life and Diagnosis

Born a hemophiliac, Ryan Wayne White contracted the HIV virus in 1984, at the age of 13, through a contaminated blood product, factor VIII, which he used for his hemophilia treatment. At the time, the medical community had limited understanding of HIV/AIDS, and his diagnosis was considered a death sentence, with life expectancy estimated at only six months.

School Controversy

White's condition deteriorated to full-blown AIDS, and upon recovery from a related illness, he expressed the desire to return to his normal life by attending school. Despite medical assurance that the disease was not airborne and could only be transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids, his readmission to Western Middle School was met with intense opposition from many parents and teachers. Fears were driven by widespread misconceptions about the disease's transmission routes and the lack of comprehensive public understanding about HIV/AIDS.

Legal Battle and Public Perception

White and his family fought the decision to exclude him from school in a high-profile legal case. The conflict, fueled by fear and misinformation about AIDS, received national attention. Ryan White became a central figure in the growing discussion about AIDS in America, and his struggle for a regular life in the face of a terminal illness resonated with many.

Legacy

Although Ryan White died in 1990, his life and fight against HIV/AIDS discrimination profoundly impacted public perception and policy. He posthumously became the namesake for the Ryan White CARE Act, a federal legislation addressing the unmet health needs of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.

See also

• History of HIV/AIDS
• HIV/AIDS in the United States
• Ryan White CARE Act

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