April 10, 2008

Magic Johnson Stands Up to AIDS

In an opinion piece published April 9 in North Carolina’s Winston-Salem Chronicle (wschronicle.com, 4/9), HIV-positive basketball star and entrepreneur Magic Johnson urged readers to put an end to HIV/AIDS stigma.

Diagnosed with HIV more than 16 years ago, Johnson has been a prominent figure in the field of AIDS awareness for nearly as long. He started the Magic Johnson AIDS Foundation in 1991, and in 2006 he launched the “I Stand With Magic” campaign, which aims to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma among African-American communities by promoting testing, treatment availability and education programs.

In the piece, Johnson responds to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recent release of its 2006 HIV/AIDS surveillance report, which confirmed that more than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV. African Americans represented half of new infections reported that same year, despite representing only 13 percent of the country’s population.

“These numbers represent the stark reality that there is still much to be done to slow the rate of new infections,” Johnson writes. “Isn’t it time that we agree that enough is enough? Let’s bring attention back to this growing crisis and empower our community to take a stand and fight back.”

Search: Magic Johnson, I Stand With Magic, African-Americans, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Scroll down to comment on this story.

Previous Comments:

RZ, Washington, DC, 2008-04-15 11:17:41
AIDS stigma is largely the stigma of homosexuality -- homophobia, sexual prejudice. Until the US government gets behind an anti-homophobia campaign - led by the President, Surgeon General and major political and social and religious leaders in the country, AIDS prevention is just a cruel joke - and hundreds of thousands of more people will get infected. Don't bet on any Republican taking this on.

Janet Jones, Harrisburg, 2008-04-15 09:09:14
In Harrisburg Pa. we are working on the stigma of HIV. I would like to team up with magic johnson because I believe it is no worse than any other diagnosis. However, it is people who are ignorant that discriminate against individuals that are infected and I will stand with you for it to cease. Anyone can become infected.

greg cutlip, lizella, 2008-04-10 19:52:05
HIV AND AIDS AWARENESS well i am living with HIV and i read the comments that MAGIC JOHNSON had stated i applaud his fight and all that he can help bring foward to this effort. Something that did bother me was that it sounds like it is driven to help the African American population i do not know the statistics but i was always a big fan of his when i was a young kid myself. Its a problem for all races and yes everyone needs more information and a cure so lets not exclude anyone from this issue