Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1991. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The Associated Press; Monday, November 18, 1991
They fear he will come to be associated only with "acceptable" AIDS patients -- those relatively few Americans with the disease who are not homosexual, intravenous drug users or prostitutes.
Most AIDS and gay rights activists say Johnson will have a tremendous influence on straight men, proving that everyone is at risk.
Yet many urge him to denounce homophobia and ensure that people with AIDS are not categorized by sexual orientation or life style.
"Instead of saying, 'I'm straight, I'm straight, I'm not gay,' which he has been doing, he should say, 'Look. It doesn't matter,' " said R. Scott Hitt, an internist specializing in HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. A Sports Illustrated article in which Johnson said he had never had a homosexual encounter drew sharp criticism from Richard Rouilard, editor in chief of The Advocate, the world's largest gay and lesbian magazine.
"This continual pointing out that he is heterosexual, his almost ignoring of the people who have developed the organizations and health-care efforts that are helping him in this disease, is not well-received," Rouilard said.
Some AIDS leaders are angry that straight celebrity victims get so much attention.
While these celebrated patients, such as the late Ryan White, have brought much attention to the disease, activists say they indirectly reinforced the notion that there are two classes of AIDS patients: "innocent" and "guilty."
CAPTION: PHOTO Magic JOHNSON
Copyright 1991/The Associated Press. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Permissions Desk, The Associated Press, 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10020.
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