Miami Herald - February 27, 2008
Jennifer Lebovich, jlebovich@MiamiHerald.com

Los Angeles Lakers star-turned-AIDS-activist Earvin "Magic" Johnson told a crowd Tuesday night that society needs to remove the stigma from people who are diagnosed with HIV.

Then he implored the crowd of about 300 at Miami's Greater Bethel AME Church to get tested.

"Now I need your help. We need to urge people te get tested," Johnson said.

As Johnson spoke, microphone in hand, about the 16 years since he announced he had HIV, many from the pews rushed forward to snap his photo with camera phones.

'HIGHS AND LOWS'

"In life you go through ups and downs, highs and lows. The lowest point was when my doctor called me home and he told me I had HIV," he said of getting the diagnosis 16 years ago.

Johnson visited Bethel and Miami Jackson High School as part of the I Stand With Magic program, a partnership between his foundation and Abbott Laboratories, an Illinois healthcare company.

The campaign's five-year goal is to cut in half the number of new HIV infections in blacks.

"We have a major problem, a crisis in our community and only we can take care of it," Johnson said earlier. "Blacks and browns, we need to come together."

In Miami-Dade, blacks make up about 20 percent of the population, but 58 percent of the AIDS cases and 46 percent of the HIV cases reported in 2007, according to the Miami-Dade County Health Department.

STRESS ON TESTING

"Particularly in the African-American community, we're stressing testing," said Florence Greer, a minority AIDS coordinator with the Florida Department of Health.

"If you look at four people who are HIV positive, only three people know."

Outside Tuesday's event, a number of people filtered into two mobile centers on hand to offer testing -- with results in about 20 minutes.

When Johnson took audience questions, 37-year-old Howard Reynolds stood up.

"I found out I was HIV positive a few weeks ago," he said, asking for advice to help talk to his wife, from whom he is separated.

'COURAGE'

Johnson hugged Reynolds.

"Let's give this brother a hand," he said.

"I love that he took the time and the courage."

"It let me know I'm not alone and it gave me hope to reach out," Reynolds said.

Christy Turnquist came from West Palm Beach with her son, Kacy Wilson, 10.

"I want to help with the fight," said Turnquist, 31.

"It's taking our community."

Turnquist, who doesn't have HIV, hoped her son might learn from a national sports figure he looks up to.

'MY MOM TOLD ME'

"I never knew about HIV and AIDS until my mom told me," said Kacy said.

"I wanted to hear from him. It's very inspiring to see how he's here."

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