HIV/AIDS News: The First Ten Years

JMG reader Dave Evans has compiled the below hour-long clip of news reports from the first ten years of HIV/AIDS. Noted figures that appear: Ryan White, Lyndon La Rouche, Larry Kramer, Ronald Reagan,  Magic Johnson, and Cleve Jones.

Quote Of The Day - Charles Blow

"The sheer volume of bile spewing from the mouth of the Clippers owner, Donald Sterling, is staggering. But just as awe-inducing, and stomach-churning, is the unrestrained breadth of its variety, which makes putting the offenses in order — if one were inclined to — nearly impossible. But high on any list — on a par with the racism, sexism, misogyny, paternalistic plantation thinking and bias cloaked in benevolence — has to be Sterling’s attempt to AIDS-shame Magic Johnson. [snip] In attempting to AIDS-shame Johnson, Sterling further shamed himself — if that’s even possible — and proved supremely disrespectful of and destructive to people living with H.I.V. and those (like Johnson, who responded magnanimously) who are working to reach the affected and protect those at risk. In this it is clear that Johnson is a far better example for our children than Sterling." - Charles Blow, writing for the New York Times.

Magic: I'm Boycotting The Clippers

Magic Johnson Tells Anderson Cooper: I'm The Blessing And The Curse Of HIV

Last night Magic Johnson talked to Anderson Cooper about the paradox presented by living with HIV for 22 years in the public eye, which has prompted many Americans to get tested but has also led some to discount the very real dangers of the virus. Johnson: "They say 'Oh, HIV is nothing. I can be like Magic. He's doing good.'" Johnson goes on to laud the gay community for its HIV education campaigns, but laments that the same is not being done in the black and Latino communities.

In the second half of the clip Johnson praises his openly gay son and denounces those that criticize him for loving his son just as he is. Johnson: "Yes, I go to church. I'm a Christian. But at the same time, you know, this is reality. My son is gay. That's reality. Nothing's going to change. And I tell pastors that. I tell black Christians who come after me, 'Hey, I love my son. Nothing's gonna change that. I don't care if you don't agree and you don't wanna deal with me or don't like me. That's on you. Tell me when it hits your own family.'"

FLORIDA: World AIDS Museum Dedicated In Wilton Manors, Magic Johnson Attends

The dedication for the World AIDS Museum took place in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Wilton Manors yesterday. Father Tony Adams took the above photo and he sends us this email:

I just went to the dedication of the fledgling World AIDS Museum in Wilton Manors. Magic Johnson was the special guest. He donated a jersey. He said that today is the 22nd anniversary of his coming out as HIV+. Steve Stagon, the founder, said that the museum will increase awareness and decrease the stigma of HIV/AIDS. A board member who came out as gay to his parents and got tested for HIV said that Magic Johnson inspired him to do it. He also made the point that the 9/11 museum honors the 3000 who died because of the attack, and the Holocaust museum honors the 6 million who died because of the Holocaust, but there have been 26 million deaths worldwide because of HIV/AIDS. There is much justification for this museum. This museum will have an education center to provide treatment and prevention information.

You can donate to support the museum here.

Athletes Cheer Jason Collins

Navratilova's responses are especially interesting.

Magic Johnson's Gay Son Speaks Out

Christian "Decency" Group Attacks Magic Johnson Because He Loves His Gay Son

"Would you be proud to hear that your loved one had chosen a life that God calls an abomination? Maybe if you yourself had lived a life of reprobation – and yourself had lost the ability to think and act morally any longer. If Magic Johnson says he’s proud of his son for being a homosexual does his statement make it right in your heart and mind? For those who say there is no God, it’s fine to screw around, play around, commit adultery, engage in homosexuality. There is no right or wrong so do what’s right in your own eyes; do what comes 'naturally.' And if what you want to do isn’t considered politically correct today, just wait awhile then it will be okay in the near future. Polygamy? Pedophilia? Same-sex marriage? Beastiality?" - Bill Johnson, head of the American Decency Association.  (Via Right Wing Watch)

Magic Johnson: I Love My Gay Son

In the first of three clips posted today by TMZ, retired NBA star and openly HIV+ safer sex advocate Magic Johnson expressed his love for his openly gay son.  In the followup clips Johnson talks about professional gay athletes coming out of the closet.

Quote Of The Day - Kobe Bryant

"Of course Magic is supportive of and loves his son.  Why should anyone be surprised? What I can't tolerate is a lack of tolerance." - NBA superstar Kobe Bryant, responding to yesterday's TMZ story about Magic Johnson's support for his gay son. TMZ ponders: "The strong implication -- tolerance is not just limited to parents and their kids, but to pro athletes whose teammates may soon come out of the closet. In case you aren't reading between the lines -- given Kobe's stature, his statement could have a huge impact on athletes coming out."

Today On TMZ

Details.

Magic Johnson Backs Home HIV Test

Gawker Offers Reward For Name Of Person Who Infected Magic Johnson

Saying that the new PBS documentary AIDS In Black America doesn't tell the full story, the gossip site Gawker is offering a reward for the name of the person who infected Magic Johnson with HIV.

For more than 20 years, Magic Johnson has been HIV positive—but it's never been revealed who he contracted it from. Last night on PBS's Frontline documentary, "AIDS in Black America," Magic disclosed the same vague answer he's given the press since 1991: "Sleeping with a lot of women." Still, it seems odd that there's been no follow-up about which of these women was HIV positive. Or how many. [snip] If anyone has any more information about who gave Magic Johnson HIV, please feel free to contact us. I think we can afford to pay more money for this now.

Noting that the rate of female-to-male HIV transmission is very low, the above-linked piece speculates that Johnson may have contracted the disease from transsexual prostitutes at a sex party allegedly thrown by Eddie Murphy.

Morning View - Magic Fund

This morning I noticed that the Magic Johnson Foundation has an impulse purchase box at the Walgreens register where you can buy a $3 rubber bracelet in support of "prevention and early detection." What, exactly, you are preventing and detecting is not revealed on the display box or on the front of the package. But yes, if you flip the card over, you'll find a reference to HIV/AIDS. It's probably petty, but this annoys me.

Sports Heroes Say No On 8

Basketball hero Magic Johnson and retired San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young (through his wife) have both come out against Proposition 8.

Via the No On 8 official site:

Magic Johnson, enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame after winning five NBA championships as a Los Angeles Laker, and three Most Valuable Player awards, has lent his voice to the chorus of those calling Proposition 8 wrong and unfair. In a recorded telephone call to California voters, Johnson says: "This is Magic Johnson calling to ask you to join me and Barack Obama in opposing Proposition 8. Prop 8 singles out one group of Californians to be treated differently – including members of our family, our friends, and our coworkers. That is not what California is about. So this Tuesday, vote no on Proposition 8. It is unfair and wrong. Thanks." The telephone message from Magic Johnson will reach millions of California voters in the final days, urging voters to reject this discriminatory and unfair initiative.

And while Hall Of Fame quarterback Steve Young's wife says that her husband is making no official endorsement, No On 8 yard signs have been placed in the yard of their Palo Alto home. Steve is a prominent Mormon and a direct descendant of Brigham Young. His wife, Barbara Young:

"I am very passionate about this issue and Steve is completely supportive of me and my work for equality," Barbara Young said in a statement to the Mercury News after midnight. "We both love our Church and are grateful that our Church encourages us to vote our conscience. Steve prefers not to get involved politically on any issue no matter what the cause and therefore makes no endorsement."

Last month the 49ers retired Young's number. His number was 8.

Magic Johnson: Obama's A Rookie

I've been thinking that the Clinton campaign was going to answer the Obama-Oprah combo with an endorsement from a major black celeb of their own. Yesterday the Clintons toured with HIV+ former NBA star Magic Johnson, who compared Obama to a rookie basketball player, saying, "You don't want somebody in there that is young or a rookie at politics. We want somebody in there that knows what they're doing because this job is so huge." Now I guess Obama has to come back with Michael Jordan.