Ryan White Research Paper

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Pages: 3

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has been an emerging issue in the United States since 1981. The first cases were of what later became known as AIDS were reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reported that five active homosexual men were dying of a rare form of pneumonia. Shortly after, more clusters of pneumonia and a new cancer called Kaposi sarcoma was reported among gay men living in Los Angeles (Gay Men and the History of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, 2008). Scared and confused, gay men found themselves in the center of an emerging stigma. Early stigmatization of HIV/AIDS as being a “Gay-Related Immune Disorder” led to the gay community receiving discrimination within their family, communities, workplace, and even in healthcare facilities. …show more content…
Ryan White was a hemophiliac who was infected with AIDS through having a contaminated blood treatment. When diagnosed, Ryan was only 13 years old and attending Western Middle School. Once the news got out about Ryan’s diagnosis, he was immediately banned from attending school. Faced with discrimination, Ryan White and his mom courageously fought AIDS-related discrimination and helped educate the Nation about his disease (Who Was Ryan White?). After years of advocating for victims of HIV/AIDS, Ryan White died in 1990. Shortly after his death, Congress passed the Ryan White CARE Act in honor of his courageous fight to educate people on HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this new act was to improve the quality and availability of care for low-income, uninsured, and underinsured individuals and families affected by HIV (Ryan White CARE Act Celebrates 25th Anniversary, 2015). Under the Ryan White CARE Act are a number of parts (programs) that work with cities, states, and organizations to provide services to people living with HIV. According to the Human Resources and Services Administration, the parts under the Ryan White Care Act