About AIDS

Last week on November 7, an interesting anniversary was observed: 10 years since Magic Johnson announced his HIV-positive status. And believing that he had been given a death sentence, he retired from basketball, despite still feeling perfectly normal and healthy. Today, 42 years old and still doing fine, he devotes himself to his family and businesses, never having experienced any symptoms. "I feel wonderful," Magic said last week. "Everything is great. I celebrate life [and] live every day." The meds have worked for him, and he has done his part by being disciplined about following the treatment regimen and living a healthy lifestyle.

I remember Magic's announcement well, as ASA then had an pro-active AIDS information hotline that took about 600-800 calls per month. Ordinarily, if something big were coming down, the CDC/NIH would alert us so we could beef up phone coverage. But Magic didn't consult the public health system; he just held a press conference on a Thursday afternoon. We had almost 2,000 calls in 3 lo-o-o-ng days! Gee, a real person (i.e., someone not perceived as gay) could "get AIDS," too, so overwhelmingly, young heterosexuals wanted to know how to get tested.

Much has changed since 1991, although the public still doesn't seem to understand the difference between having HIV infection and having AIDS. But Magic Johnson is doing well, thanks to reasonably effective drugs and his own efforts to stay adherent and healthy. One might wish he were a more active crusader among young black men for responsibility and staying HIV-free, but that's his choice. Maybe his surviving and thriving is testimony enough. Go, Magic!