"I talk about HIV to help you understand that it's out there and it's here to stay, to make you think before doing things...Talk to your teachers. It's not all about having HIV or AIDS. It's about getting somebody pregnant. None of us want to become early parents."
- Magic Johnson addressing HIV/AIDS issue to Laguna Beach High School Students, 1994.
- Magic Johnson addressing HIV/AIDS issue to Laguna Beach High School Students, 1994.
Magic Johnson provides many more types of advocacy work in regards to AIDS, aside from his involvement with the Magic Johnson Foundation. These types of activities include holding talks at schools about the disease or participating in public service announcements that disprove the false accusations and stigmatization of AIDS. At these schools, he not only educates students about HIV/AIDS in describing his own experiences with the disease, but he also advocates for abstinence and for students to focus on their education, stating that it is the best tool that can help them to make better decisions (Kong, "Students Spellbound: Celebrity Earvin 'Magic' Johnson speaks at Laguna Beach High School about AIDS, His Career, and the Importance of Education). Although Johnson may have been met with many positive and negative reactions upon announcing his diagnosis of HIV, his influential status as one of the greatest NBA players has greatly shaped how many saw him as the ideal spokesperson for AIDS.
"I think he's great...It's nice to know that he cares about other people, not just himself".
- Bobby Marquette, age 9, 1994
- Bobby Marquette, age 9, 1994
Youtube Video: Magic Johnson partnering with fellow NBA basketball player, Yao Ming, in HIV/AIDS PSA Announcement