PENNSYLVANIA: Frank Talk from Magic About HIV

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

PENNSYLVANIA: Frank Talk from Magic About HIV

Philadelphia Daily News (12.13.06) - Thursday, December 21, 2006
Valerie Russ

Of the nearly 2,000 young people who filled the auditorium at University City High School on Dec. 12 to see basketball great Magic Johnson, many were only babies when the NBA star announced 15 years ago he had tested positive for HIV. But that did not diminish the roaring cheers that greeted Johnson, who came to the school to push his "I Stand with Magic" campaign. The outreach urges young people, especially African Americans, to learn about HIV/AIDS.

Johnson told the crowd that HIV/AIDS is growing fastest among African Americans. AIDS is now the leading cause of death among young black women, he said. He told the students he learned of his diagnosis just months after getting married. "I used to think that the hardest thing I'd have to do was play against Michael Jordan, of the Chicago Bulls, or Larry Bird, of the Boston Celtics," Johnson said. "But the hardest thing I ever had to do in my life was drive home and tell my wife that I was infected with HIV."

Johnson said he felt it was important for the students to know that in addition to protecting themselves, they should also consider about how HIV/AIDS affects family members and close friends. "All I want you to do is to educate yourself about HIV and AIDS and don't have the attitude that it can't happen to you," he told the audience.

"The safest sex is no sex. But I know a lot of people in here may not go that route," Johnson said, so condoms are essential for preventing STDs including HIV.
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