Editing Ryan White (section)

===Ryan White and public perception of AIDS===
{{See also|HIV/AIDS in the United States}}
In the early 1980s, AIDS was known as [[gay-related immune deficiency]], because the disease had first been identified among primarily homosexual communities in Los Angeles, New York City, and San Francisco. At the start of the [[HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States]], the disease was thought to be a "homosexual problem" and was largely ignored by policymakers.<ref name=Band/> White's diagnosis demonstrated to many that AIDS was not exclusive to homosexual men. Lesser criticisms had been made that the disease was a punishment for drug abuse and heterosexual promiscuity, citing "an expensive price to pay for drugs and casual sex". In his advocacy for AIDS research, White, not gay himself, always rejected any criticism of homosexuality.

White was seen by some as an "innocent victim" of the AIDS epidemic.<ref name="NYT mom"/> White and his family strongly rejected the language of "innocent victim" because the phrase was often used to imply that gays with AIDS were "guilty". His mother told ''[[The New York Times]]'', {{blockquote|Ryan always said, "I'm just like everyone else with AIDS, no matter how I got it." And he would never have lived as long as he did without the gay community. The people we knew in New York made sure we knew about the latest treatments way before we would have known in Indiana. I hear mothers today say they're not gonna work with no gay community on anything. Well, if it comes to your son's life, you better start changing your heart and your attitude around.<ref name="NYT mom"/>}}