Everyday students complain about being “forced” to attend school. Twenty-seven years ago, however, one boy was celebrating a great victory that was allowing him to go to school after a year and a half of being away. In his attempts to behave as normally as possible amongst all of the fear and hatred surrounding him, Ryan White gave the AIDS epidemic an innocent face.

White contracted the HIV virus from tainted blood products used to treat his hemophilia. At that time, the HIV virus had not even been identified, therefore doctors were not quite sure exactly how contagious AIDS was. It was for this reason that many still feared the possibility of AIDS being transmitted through tears, sweat and saliva. However, in the medical community, this theory was faulted after multiple long term studies of families with AIDS patients had disproved such ideas.

When White asked if he could return to school, the district barred him from entering any district buildings despite assurances from those in the medical community that he posed no threat to the school population. So, from June 30 1985-July 18 1986 White and his family were caught in a legal and media frenzy.

Throughout this entire process White also became a celebrity of sorts. Following his rise to fame, many schools began to institute policies to handle the possibility of students with AIDS. Notable celebrities including Elton John and Michael Jackson offered him their support, and a movie was even made on the subject of his struggle to go back to school.

White also used his fame to influence AIDS policy. Prior to his rise into the media spotlight, many Republicans had listed AIDS as God’s punishment against homosexuals and intravenous drug users for their sins. White helped to abolish these ideas, even telling his story to Congress.

His biggest influence however came posthumously, in 1990 Ryan White CARE Act, today known as the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Extension Act, was put into effect. This legislation gives aid to those living with HIV/AIDS and the financial strain it comes with.

However, in schools today Ryan White remains a key symbol for HIV. His story is often cited as reasoning for HIV education in public schools. No students are allowed to be discriminated against for their HIV status. Currently, his mother travels around the country telling his story, attempting to motivate young people to change injustices they see in the world.