Rainbow Boys

The question of sexual identity is asked to many professional athletes when they are first diagnosed with HIV or tested positive for the AIDS virus. Magic Johnson is a five time championship winner with the Los Angeles Lakers, awarded MVP three times, and played amongst the first nine Olympic All-Star teams (Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame). Despite these great achievements in his life, his contact with the HIV virus caused him to face much discrimination. Although Johnson's source of the virus has been unknown, many people have "misconceptions of AIDS as an exclusively gay disease" and thought that Magic was homosexual because of his positive test (Stewart). During an interview with Arsenio Hall, immediately after admitting his infection, Magic was asked about his sexuality. In response to this question Magic responded that he was "far from being homosexual" (Stewart). Magic Johnson's acknowledgment to contacting the virus lead many activist to feel that his "disavowal of homosexual activity put a barrier between gay people with AIDS and everyone else, reinforcing the stereotype that gays 'brought it on themselves'" (Kantrowitz). This idea that gays brought it on to themselves reinforces the discrimination that HIV positive and AIDS people face throughout their lives. The misconception that leads people to discriminate against HIV positive individuals assumes that all people who are infected are homosexual and causes one to lose his or her identity.

Due to his popularity, many people feel that Magic has yet to face the real discrimination of HIV. The discrimination that Magic has faced has been much less than people who are not well known. While Magic continues to be healthy, public sentiment will be overwhelmingly on his side, but "some AIDS activists worry that when he gets sicker, that support may fade" (Stewart). In Kantrowitz's article Larry Kramer states, "When his body becomes skin and bones and pus and runny sores, there won't be so many people running to embrace him". Due to his good health and admitting to the disease early, this prevented him from the harsh discrimination others have faced. Racism also may be a factor when the disease progresses for Johnson. Black men are faced with discrimination everyday and looked upon as "criminals and drug addicts" (Kantrowitz). Once "you add the stigma of AIDS--a black man with AIDS is treated like garbage" (Kantrowitz). As Johnson's disease progresses one can expect the same alienation and cruel discrimination as other less famous people.

A similar event that has recently taken place is the accusation