Ryan White (activist)
Ryan Wayne White (* 6. December 1971 in Kokomo , Indiana ; † 8. April 1990 in Indianapolis , Indiana) was an American activist against the discrimination of AIDS luxation.
Life
Ryan White was the older of Wayne and Jeanne White's two children. His sister is two years younger than him.
He suffered from haemophilia and required constant blood infusions. In 1985 - at the age of 13 - he was diagnosed with AIDS. He was probably infected from one of his daily injections.
His case caused a sensation and outrage in the United States as the school administration banned him from class after learning of Ryan's illness. He and his family sued in court and won: Ryan was allowed to go back to school. At school he was exposed to abuse, insults and a lot of hostility. His mother was also insulted and shunned while shopping in town. After tires of the family's car were stabbed and stones pelted at the house, the family moved to another town.
His courage and determination made him one of the best-known activists against discrimination against AIDS sufferers between 1985 and 1989. In addition to meeting with US President George HW Bush , he was known to include celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor , Elton John , Donald Trump and Phil Donahue . Michael Jackson dedicated the song Gone Too Soon to him .
On April 8, 1990, White died of complications from the disease.
publication
- with Ann Marie Cunningham: Ryan White: My Own Story. Autobiography . Dial Books, New York 1991, ISBN 0-8037-0977-3 .
filming
- In 1989 - while he was still alive - the life of Ryan White was filmed: The Ryan White Story . Lukas Haas played the main role .
Web links
- Ryan White in the Internet Movie Database (English)
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/09/obituaries/ryan-white-dies-of-aids-at-18-his-struggle-helped-pierce-myths.html
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | White, Ryan |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | White, Ryan Wayne (full name) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American activist against discrimination against AIDS sufferers |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 6th December 1971 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kokomo , Indiana , USA |
| DATE OF DEATH | April 8, 1990 |
| Place of death | Indianapolis , Indiana , USA |