Sarah Vowell
American author, journalist, singing songs and social commentator
Ryan White was an American teenager who became a national figure in the fight against AIDS. After being diagnosed with the disease as a hemophiliac, he faced discrimination and stigma when his school barred him from attending classes. His story helped shift public perception and led to the passage of the landmark Ryan White CARE Act, which continues to provide vital services for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Table of Contents
About the Ryan White
Ryan Wayne Whitewas an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States after his school barred him from attending classes following a diagnosis of AIDS.
As a hemophiliac, White became infected with HIV from a contaminated factor VIII blood treatment and, when diagnosed in December 1984, was given six months to live. Doctors said he posed no risk to other students, as AIDS is not an airborne disease and spreads solely through bodily fluids, but AIDS was poorly understood by the general public at the time. When White tried to return to school, irate parents and teachers in Howard County rallied against his attendance due to unwarranted concerns of the disease spreading to other students and staff. A lengthy administrative appeal process ensued, and news of the conflict turned White into a popular celebrity and advocate for AIDS research and public education. Surprising his doctors, White lived five years longer than predicted. He died on April 8, 1990, one month before his high school graduation.
During the 1980s, AIDS was largely stigmatized as an illness impacting the gay community. In the U.S., that perception shifted with the media focus placed on White and other prominent heterosexual HIV-infected people such as Magic Johnson, Arthur Ashe and the Ray brothers, although these cases were often framed as “innocent”–a contrast to gay men who were seen as “guilty” subjects. The U.S. Congress passed a major piece of AIDS legislation, the Ryan White CARE Act, shortly after White’s death, which was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush in August 1990 and reauthorized twice. Through the “Ryan White programs” it funds, the Act has become the largest provider of services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ryan White was an American teenager from Kokomo, Indiana, who became a national poster child for HIV/AIDS in the United States after his school barred him from attending classes following a diagnosis of AIDS.
As a hemophiliac, Ryan White became infected with HIV from a contaminated factor VIII blood treatment. When he was diagnosed in December 1984, he was given six months to live.
When Ryan White tried to return to school, irate parents and teachers in Howard County rallied against his attendance due to unwarranted concerns about the disease spreading, even though doctors said he posed no risk to other students.
During the 1980s, AIDS was largely stigmatized as an illness impacting the gay community, but the media focus on Ryan White and other prominent heterosexual HIV-infected people helped shift that perception in the U.S.
The U.S. Congress passed the Ryan White CARE Act shortly after Ryan White’s death, which was signed into law by President George H. W. Bush and has become the largest provider of services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the United States.
Surprising his doctors, Ryan White lived five years longer than the six months he was initially given after his AIDS diagnosis in 1984.
Ryan White died on April 8, 1990, one month before his high school graduation.
30 Quotes by Ryan White
- 1.
People would get up and leave so they would not have to sit anywhere near me.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 2.
Most recently my battle has been against AIDS and the discrimination surrounding it.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 3.
I was labeled a troublemaker, my mom an unfit mother, and I was not welcome anywhere.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 4.
I came face to face with death at thirteen years old.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 5.
I received thousands of letters of support from all around the world, all because I wanted to go to school.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 6.
Listening to medical facts was not enough. People wanted one hundred percent guarantees.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 7.
Eventually, I won the right to attend school, but the prejudice was still there.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 8.
My studies are important to me. I made the honor role just recently, with 2 A’s and 2 B’s.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 9.
The desire to move into a bigger house, to avoid living AIDS daily, and a dream to be accepted by a community and school, became possible and a reality with a movie about my life, The Ryan White Story.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 10.
How could these people in the public eye not be afraid of me, but my whole town was?
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 11.
We had great faith that with patience, understanding, and education, that my family and I could be helpful in changing their minds and attitudes around.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 12.
AIDS can destroy a family if you let it, but luckily for my sister and me, Mom taught us to keep going. Don’t give up, be proud of who you are, and never feel sorry for yourself.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 13.
I believe in myself as I look forward to graduating from Hamilton Heights High School in 1991.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 14.
This brought on the news media, TV crews, interviews, and numerous public appearances.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 15.
I’m just one of the kids, and all because the students at Hamilton Heights High School listened to the facts, educated their parents and themselves, and believed in me.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 16.
Because of the lack of education on AIDS, discrimination, fear, panic, and lies surrounded me.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 17.
My name is Ryan White. I am sixteen years old. I have hemophilia, and I have AIDS.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 18.
My family and I held no hatred for those people because we realized they were victims of their own ignorance.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 19.
Financial hardships were rough on us, even though Mom had a good job at G.M.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 20.
We began a series of court battles for nine months, while I was attending classes by telephone.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 21.
Given six months to live and being the fighter that I am, I set high goals for myself.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 22.
Entertainers, athletes, and stars started giving me support.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 23.
The first five to six years of my life were spent in and out of the hospital.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 24.
Even at church, people would not shake my hand.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 25.
Rumors of sneezing, kissing, tears, sweat, and saliva spreading AIDS caused people to panic.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 26.
Mayor Koch, of New York, was the first public figure to give me support.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 27.
Twice a week I would receive injections or IV’s of Factor VIII which clotted the blood and then broke it down.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 28.
The school I was going to said they had no guidelines for a person with AIDS.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 29.
A lot of my time was spent searching, thinking and planning my life.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)
- 30.
On December 17, 1984, I had surgery to remove two inches of my left lung due to pneumonia. After two hours of surgery the doctors told my mother I had AIDS.
Ryan WhiteAIDS spokesperson and "poster boy" (1971-1990)