HIV in America before and after Magic Johnson's announcementWhen the HIV virus emerged in the early 1980s, the public reacted with fear and aversion similar to those of ancient peoples towards lepers. The disease has been labeled “dirty” due to its connection to the gay community. Little was known about it, and although research was ongoing, drugs to treat it were not created until the late 1980s. Magic Johnson, the world famous professional basketball player, was diagnosed with HIV in 1991 and since then society has grown tremendously in the public's knowledge and acceptance of AIDS and people infected by the virus. Extensive research has given us increasingly effective treatments for HIV. Education and access to information have improved, in part due to Johnson's work as a spokesperson on the issue. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The AIDS epidemic began in the homosexual community. The sexually transmitted disease was infecting and killing many young gay men in New York and California. The immune deficiency caused by HIV has made men vulnerable to opportunistic infections such as Kaposi's sarcoma and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia. Very few people knew about it, and those who knew assumed that the disease only targeted gay men. When Magic Johnson contracted the virus in '91, he had to work against the stigma surrounding HIV. Most people were unaware of how the disease worked, how it was transmitted, and who it affected. Johnson experienced firsthand the public's doubts and nervousness. People were worried that he was contagious or that the virus would inhibit his ability to play. They were suspicious of how he got it and, in general, didn't treat him like they had before he went public. Johnson organized the Magic Johnson Foundation to provide HIV education, prevention and testing services to urban communities. His announcement helped raise awareness and let people know that anyone can contract this very serious and dangerous disease if they are not careful. When Magic Johnson began receiving treatment, he was prescribed a pill called AZT or Zidovudine. It was the first HIV drug approved by the government. The pill works to slow the growth and multiplication of HIV cells. At that time, it was a revolutionary medicine. Johnson began taking it in 1991, shortly after finding out he was HIV positive. In 1995, the hard work of scientists and AIDS research took another step forward. The "cocktail" of anti-virus and immune-boosting drugs against HIV was approved, and Magic was one of the first patients to try it. Thanks to the scientific advancement, awareness and fundraising that Magic Johnson helped initiate, there are effective drugs on the market for managing HIV. HIV awareness campaigners like Magic have worked hard to make them available to everyone diagnosed with the disease, whether through financial aid or access to services. We have come a long way in the last 20 years. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Not only have treatment and management advanced, but so have attitudes. People are less discriminatory towards HIV-positive people for a variety of reasons. Information about HIV and AIDS is now taught in schools. From an early age, the.