The Ryan White Story

Ryan White and public perception of AIDS
See also: HIV/AIDS in the United States
In the early 1980s, AIDS was known as gay-related immune deficiency, because the disease had first been identified among primarily homosexual communities in New York City and San Francisco. At the start of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, the disease was thought to be a "homosexual problem" and was largely ignored by policy makers.[20] White's diagnosis demonstrated to many that AIDS was not exclusive to homosexuals. In his advocacy for AIDS research, White himself always rejected any criticism of homosexuality.[37]
White was seen by some as an "innocent victim" of the AIDS epidemic.[37] White and his family strongly rejected the language of "innocent victim" because the phrase was often used to imply that homosexuals with AIDS were "guilty". White's mother told The New York Times, "Ryan always said, 'I'm just like everyone else with AIDS, no matter how I got it.' And he would never have lived as long as he did without the gay community. The people we knew in New York made sure we knew about the latest treatments way before we would have known in Indiana. I hear mothers today say they're not gonna work with no gay community on anything. Well, if it comes to your son's life, you better start changing your heart and your attitude around."[37]

Ryan White Care Act
Main article: Ryan White Care Act


President Obama signs the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009.
In August 1990, four months after White's death, Congress enacted The Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act (often known simply as the Ryan White Care Act), in his honor. The act is the United States' largest federally funded program for people living with HIV/AIDS. The Ryan White Care Act funds programs to improve availability of care for low-income, uninsured and under-insured victims of AIDS and their families.[44]
Ryan White programs are "payer of last resort," which subsidize treatment when no other resources are available. The act was reauthorized in 1996, 2000 and 2006 and remains an active piece of legislation today. The program provides some level of care for around 500,000 people a year and, in 2004, provided funds to 2,567 organizations. The Ryan White programs also provide funding and technical assistance to local and state primary medical care providers, support services, healthcare provider and training programs.[44][45]
The Ryan White Act was set to expire on September 30, 2009, although efforts began to obtain an extension to the act.[46] The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act of 2009 was signed on October 30, 2009 by President Barack Obama, who announced plans to remove a ban on travel and immigration to the U.S. by individuals with HIV.[47] Obama called the 22-year ban a decision "rooted in fear rather than fact".[47]

References

1. "A Timeline of Key Events in Ryan's Life". Ryanwhite.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2009-12-02.
2. a b c d Johnson, Dirk (April 9, 1990). "Ryan White Dies of AIDS at 18; His Struggle Helped Pierce Myths". The New York Times. Retrieved on January 30, 2008.
3. a b Resnik, Susan (1999). Blood Saga: Hemophilia, AIDS, and the Survival of a Community. University of California Press. ISBN 0520211952.
4. a b c d White, Ryan and Ann Marie Cunningham (1991). Ryan White: My Own Story. Dial Books. ISBN 0803709773.
^ a b c Specter, Michael (September 3, 1985). "AIDS Victim's Right to Attend Public School Tested in Corn Belt". The Washington Post.
5. a b "Domestic news". Associated Press. July 31, 1985.
6. Perlman, Lisa (August 26, 1985). "AIDS Victim Begins School By Phone". Associated Press.
7. "Official Recommends AIDS Victim Stay Home for School". October 2, 1985.
8. Perlman, Lisa (November 25, 1985). "Rule Teen-ager Can Attend Classes". Associated Press.
9. Perlman, Lisa (December 18, 1985). "School Board Votes to Appeal Decision Allowing AIDS Victim in Classes". Associated Press.
10. Strauss, John (February 6, 1986). "Boy Can Return To School If Health Officer Approves, Board Says". Associated Press.
11. Perlman, Lisa (February 13, 1986). "Health Officer Says AIDS Victim Ryan White Can Return To School". Associated Press.
12. "Judge Denies Motion To Bar Indiana AIDS Victim From Classes". Associated Press. February 19, 1986.
13. Strauss, John (February 21, 1986). "AIDS Schoolboy Back in Classroom But Judge Rules Against Him". Associated Press.
14. "Opposition Group Raises Needed Funds For Bond". Associated Press. March 3, 1986.
15. Strauss, John (April 9, 1986). "Judge Delays Ruling In Ryan White Case". Associated Press.
16. Kusmer, Ken (April 10, 1986). "Teen-Age AIDS Victim Returns To School after Lengthy Court Battle". Associated Press.
17. Huddleston, Susan (July 18, 1986). "Parents Drop Effort to Keep AIDS Victim Out of School". Associated Press.
18. "Chronology of Ryan White's Fight to Attend School". United Press International. November 25, 1985.
19. a b c Shilts, Randy (1987). And the Band Played On: Politics, People, and the AIDS Epidemic. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0312009941.
20. a b c Sharon Cohen (April 28, 1986). "'City Of Firsts' Struggles with Division over AIDS in School". Associated Press.
21. Wallis, Claudia (February 17, 1986). "Lessening Fears; Contact does not spread AIDS". Time. Retrieved on January 30, 2008.
22. "Alternative School Opens in AIDS Scare". The Washington Post. April 23, 1986.
23. a b Franklin, Tim (March 3, 1988). "Teen's Story of AIDS Prejudice Wins Hearts". The Chicago Tribune.
24. Richardson, Fran (August 31, 1987). "AIDS Schoolboy Says First Day At New School Went 'Great'". Associated Press.
25. a b c Brodie, Mollyann, et al. (2004) (PDF). AIDS at 21: Media Coverage of the HIV Epidemic 1981-2002. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved on September 9, 2007.
26 Cohen, Charles E. (April 08, 1991). "A Year After Ryan White's Death, His Mother, Jeanne, Picks Up the Pieces and Carries on His Fight". People Magazine. Retrieved August 2, 2009.
27. a b O'Connor, John J (January 16, 1989). "Review/Television; AIDS and Hemophilia". The New York Times. Retrieved January 30, 2008.
28. a b "Kokomo Mayor Swamped With Angry Calls Following Ryan White TV Movie". Associated Press. January 18, 1989.
29. a b c d "1,500 Say Goodbye to AIDS Victim Ryan White". Associated Press. April 11, 1990.
30. a b c Reagan, Ronald (January 11, 1990). "We Owe It to Ryan". The Washington Post.
31. "Vandals Again Desecrate Grave of AIDS Victim Ryan White". Associated Press. July 8, 1991.
32. "Ryan White Admirers Leave Notes, Mementos at Grave". Associated Press. December 10, 1992.
33. Alexander, Lindsey (November 12, 2007). "Indiana U. students reach $1M goal at dance marathon". Indiana Daily Student.
34. "Indiana University Dance Marathon Press". Indiana University. Retrieved on January 27, 2008.
35. Nimmons, David (September 1993). "Larry Kramer; AIDS activist; Interview". Playboy.
36. a b c d Witchel, Alex (September 24, 1992). "At Home With Jeanne White-Ginder; A Son's AIDS, and a Legacy". The New York Times.. Retrieved on January 30, 2008.
37. Schindehette, Susan and Giovanna Breu (May 15, 2000). "Ten years after her son's death, Jeanne White shuts down his foundation but carries on the fight against AIDS". People.
38. "Hamilton Heights student government sponsors AIDS Walk". Noblesville Daily Times. Retrieved 2008-05-18.
39. Newman, Melinda (October 17, 1992). "Elton John Assisting AIDS Research; Donating Future Singles Sales Royalties". Billboard.
40. Harrington, Richard (November 24, 1991). "Jackson's `Dangerous' Departures; Stylistic Shifts Mar His First Album in 4 Years". The Washington Post.
41. von Metzke, Ron (July 9, 2007). "Ten Minutes with Tiffany". Gay Wired. Retrieved January 27, 2008.
42. "The Power of Children". The Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
43. a b "The Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program". Health Resources and Services Administration, HHS. Retrieved on September 11, 2007.
44. Taylor, Jessamy (August 22, 2005) (PDF). Caring for "Ryan White": The Fundamentals of HIV/AIDS Treatment Policy. The George Washington University. Retrieved on September 9, 2007.
45. Roehr, Bob (2009-09-24). "The race to reauthorize Ryan White CARE Act". The Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
46. a b Franke-Ruta, Garance (2009-10-30). "White House announces end to HIV travel ban". Washington Post.[/list]