The child who contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and was rejected by his community, 1984

The child who contracted Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and was rejected by his community, 1984

Ryan White was a 13-year-old child in Indiana, USA. He was a hemophiliac, which means that his blood did not naturally clot. This means that small cuts can be lethal as people with hemophilia can bleed out. Ryan had been receiving blood in blood transfusions as he needed more platelets in his blood for it to clot. In 1984, Ryan had been given blood that contained HIV accidentally. He was diagnosed with HIV in December 1984 and was given 6 months to live. When Ryan tried to reenter his high school, he was denied entry. Doctors stated that Ryan was OK to enter the school as HIV is not an airborne virus and it spreads through bodily fluids. However, many people at the time did not understand HIV, and discriminated against Ryan for having the "gay disease". HIV was associated with gay men as gay men in the USA were the first to be diagnosed with it in the Western world. Ryan was banned from his school. Many of his friends abandoned him. 360 total students, 117 parents, and 50 teachers signed a petition to ban him from the school. Ryan would be harassed by people who would shout "We know you are a queer" at him, even though he was straight. Someone even fired a bullet through a window in his house, all in an attempt to scare Ryan away from his town. Ryan and his parents would continue to fight against the school and its unfair decisions. Ryan was eventually let back into school in 1986. Some students left the school, while others shook his hand to show their support for him. Ryan died in 1990. Over 1,500 people attended his funeral including figures like Elton John and Micheal Jackson. His legacy shows the societal and social pressures around people with AIDs and the LGBT community. Ryan fought the system, society, and the people who considered him to be a threat. He lived 6 years longer than originally predicted, and his legacy still stands today for his courage, strength, and determination.