“When my son Ryan wanted to continue going to school, only one man in all of state government was brave enough to stand up for him. Ryan and I are both so grateful,” said White-Gender. “With all that’s wrong with our country, we need courageous people like Dr. Myers in Congress who will do what’s right.”
As Health Commissioner from 1985-1990, Dr. Myers championed Ryan’s cause when his community turned against him. Diagnosed with HIV in 1984 from infected blood-based products, 13 year-old Ryan was told to leave his public school for the erroneous fear he would spread the virus through casual contact. At a time when HIV-AIDS was widely misunderstood, Dr. Myers boldly took on his role of Indiana’s state’s medical expert, educated Hoosiers on the nature of the virus and took action to bring a voice to a child who needed it most.
“I’m so honored Jeanne is helping out our campaign,” said Myers. “She exemplifies the hope and courage of the people of Indianapolis. She serves as a role model in compassion and tenacity to our city and our nation.”
Myers has been criticized by some in the GLBT community because he once favored the quarantine of all AIDs patients who knowingly spread the disease and tracking all persons who tested positive for the HIV virus when he was Indiana's health commissioner. When former New York Mayor David Dinkins appointed Myers to head that city's health department, he met with strong opposition from New York's gay community. Myers later softened his position after he learned more about the disease.
6 comments:
Dr. Myers never advocated for quarantine of all AIDS patients as Indiana Health Commissioner. The recent flap over this was caused by an erroneous report by Gay City News that mentioned the controversy surrounding his appointment as NYC Health Commissioner. Dr. Myers supported the isolation of patients with the virus who knowingly spread the disease on purpose with criminal intent.
Dr. Myers felt that quarantine of HIV or AIDS patients would be counterproductive and ineffective in protecting the public health. Dr. Myers is a leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS and is an international hero to patients who suffer from this disease both here in the US and in Africa where Dr. Myers' personal foundation is involved in the fight against AIDS in such places as Mozambique.
Ryan White and his mother arewere certainly courageous people. I still believe that Woody Myers is homophobic and a misguided medical professional
Woody has my gay vote. :)
Myers has no clue about foreign relations as he states in his media ads. It would be dangerous to elect him.....and for his Universal Health Care, well, Woody & Hillary would likely TAX & SPEND all working American citizens into oblivion.
The invasion from Mexico is already costing us taxpayers far too much in health care being paid for by us for illegal aliens. If you want to see where your tax money is going, go look at Wishard's ER waiting room.....it looks like Mexico City.
I saw the "Ryan White" ad tonight for the first time, and it was very well done. My boyfriend, who doesnt really follow along as closely to this stuff as I do, immediately recognized Ryan's mother and praised the ad and confirmed his pledge of support for Dr. Myers. (And no, I havnt even dared try to force him to vote any specific way, he's too stubborn for that, he made up his mind all on his own... LoL)!
Happy Birthday Ryan, I think of you often and with great fondness...
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