Changing the Face of AIDS
As one of the highest paid players going into the 1991 NBA season, the Lakers requested that Magic Johnson take out a life insurance policy. This required a routine but intricate physical exam including a blood test (Weinberg). Johnson was in Utah for an exhibition game when the doctor called and demanded he fly back to Los Angeles immediately to discuss the results. Upon arrival, the doctor informed Johnson he tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) known to cause acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Johnson contacted AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser, wife of the famous actor Paul Michael Glaser, for advice and information regarding what to expect from this illness (Moughty 2011). Elizabeth had contracted HIV through a blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter Ariel in 1981 ("Elizabeth's Story"). Soon after, Ariel contracted HIV through breastfeeding and eventually passed away at age seven. Elizabeth also passed the virus on to her son during childbirth in 1884 before finally learning of her HIV status in 1885. Elizabeth explained to both Johnson and his wife, Earleatha “Cookie” Johnson that Magic needed to become the face of AIDS and an advocate for the many whose voices were not being heard. He needed to go public with his HIV status and push to help save lives because the disease was quickly making its way up the list of top causes of death in the nation (Moughty 2011).
At this point in history HIV/AIDS was still largely perceived as a “gay disease” particularly in white men (Pollock 1994). Rock Hudson had been one of the only famous individuals to come out with his HIV/AIDS status. Hudson was known to have many sexual encounters with men, which further supported the incorrect belief that AIDS was a disease of white, gay men. The public also watched Rock Hudson become extremely fragile and ill from the disease before eventually passing away, which paralleled the belief that AIDS was a death sentence. However, on November 7, 1991 Magic Johnson would shock the world with his public announcement.
Johnson called for a press conference where he announced his retirement due to contracting HIV. People were speechless. Magic Johnson, the number one basketball player of the 1980’s as a five time NBA champion, three time NBA MVP, and twelve time All-Star was retiring at the peak of his career ("Magic Johnson"). Aside from his fame, Magic was a heterosexual, non-drug using African American man with HIV. The news not only surprised the nation but also made the front page of other countries including Italy, Australia, Israel and Japan all of which owed their basketball interest, at least in part, to Magic Johnson (McNeil 1991). This rocked the entire world and rightfully so, “all the posters and pamphlets were about white gay males . . . [Johnson] knocks the myths right out of the water” ("Carl Bean").
Take a look at our other pages under "More" to see the various reactions to Johnson's announcement and his interactions with the government as an AIDS activist.
Johnson contacted AIDS activist Elizabeth Glaser, wife of the famous actor Paul Michael Glaser, for advice and information regarding what to expect from this illness (Moughty 2011). Elizabeth had contracted HIV through a blood transfusion while giving birth to her daughter Ariel in 1981 ("Elizabeth's Story"). Soon after, Ariel contracted HIV through breastfeeding and eventually passed away at age seven. Elizabeth also passed the virus on to her son during childbirth in 1884 before finally learning of her HIV status in 1885. Elizabeth explained to both Johnson and his wife, Earleatha “Cookie” Johnson that Magic needed to become the face of AIDS and an advocate for the many whose voices were not being heard. He needed to go public with his HIV status and push to help save lives because the disease was quickly making its way up the list of top causes of death in the nation (Moughty 2011).
At this point in history HIV/AIDS was still largely perceived as a “gay disease” particularly in white men (Pollock 1994). Rock Hudson had been one of the only famous individuals to come out with his HIV/AIDS status. Hudson was known to have many sexual encounters with men, which further supported the incorrect belief that AIDS was a disease of white, gay men. The public also watched Rock Hudson become extremely fragile and ill from the disease before eventually passing away, which paralleled the belief that AIDS was a death sentence. However, on November 7, 1991 Magic Johnson would shock the world with his public announcement.
Johnson called for a press conference where he announced his retirement due to contracting HIV. People were speechless. Magic Johnson, the number one basketball player of the 1980’s as a five time NBA champion, three time NBA MVP, and twelve time All-Star was retiring at the peak of his career ("Magic Johnson"). Aside from his fame, Magic was a heterosexual, non-drug using African American man with HIV. The news not only surprised the nation but also made the front page of other countries including Italy, Australia, Israel and Japan all of which owed their basketball interest, at least in part, to Magic Johnson (McNeil 1991). This rocked the entire world and rightfully so, “all the posters and pamphlets were about white gay males . . . [Johnson] knocks the myths right out of the water” ("Carl Bean").
Take a look at our other pages under "More" to see the various reactions to Johnson's announcement and his interactions with the government as an AIDS activist.