AG: I am currently 15 years old, and until recently I did not know what AIDS was.

Sal: Good morning/afternoon/evening ladies and gentlemen, friends and family,

chairperson, follow contestants, honourable judges, and guests.
Intro: Older audience members may, as my parents were, be shocked to know that I
could not answer what is AIDS? I quickly learned through a household discussion that
20 to 30 years ago everyone knew what AIDS was and if you contracted AIDS you died.
Prompted by my lack of knowledge, I can now tell you what aids is, how perceptions
have changed over time and... a whole lot more.
AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is the final stage of HIV. HIV is a virus,
transmitted through bodily fluids which attacks the body's immune system. HIV
transitions into AIDS when your body becomes unable to fight off opportunistic
infections like certain forms of pneumonia.
While only occurring in North America within the past few decades, AIDS has been
traced to Africa since the late 1800s.
AIDS was first officially diagnosed in North America on April 24, 1980, when a San
Francisco resident named Ken Horne died from AIDS related complications. His case
was the first case in the United States to be recognized.
In the past there have been many negative opinions and perceptions around the idea of
AIDS. In the early 1980s AIDS was recognized to be a virus that only members of the
gay community were diagnosed with. The term GRID or Gay-Related Immune
Deficiency was coined by the general press. Before the term AIDS was given, some
parts of society also referred to it as the 4-H Disease as at the time being the
uncompassionate perception was that it only affected homosexuals, heroin users,
hemophiliacs and Haitians.
Also at the time it was assumed that a person could contract the virus through
hugging,sharing cups, public pools or telephones with a person diagnosed with AIDS. In
1984 after contracting AIDS through blood tainted transfusions, Ryan White, a highschool student at the time of his diagnosis, created much controversy and helped
change how people saw AIDS. Many teachers, parents and students within his school
rallied against his attendance despite the doctor's approval. Due to the media coverage
of a lengthy legal battle between his family and the school board, he was able to help
bring education and perspective to the world and is now well known today as the
national poster child for HIV and AIDS in the US. The film Philadelphia was released in
1993 and was the first film to acknowledge HIV and AIDS as well as homosexuality and

homophobia. This film won many awards including an academy award. At about the
same time, Magic Johnson, a famous NBA star announced in a press conference that
he was HIV positive. As Magic Johnson clearly did not fit the traditional stereotype, it
became global news and changed how many people viewed HIV and AIDS.
Over 70000 people within Canada are living with HIV and 20 percent of those infected
are unaware. This shows the importance of getting tested for HIV. Ironically, those who
live with AIDS for a longer period of time statistically would be capable of infecting larger
amounts of people due to their extended lifetime. Scientists believe that this could be
one of the reasons that the number of people infected with AIDS has not decreased
over time. According to a study done by the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research
two thirds of grade seven students, one half of grade nine and a third of grade 11
students believed that there is a cure for AIDS. I too was an example of guilty of similar
ignorance.
More than one million children and adults die each year from AIDS in Africa alone.
AIDS has challenged the world of science, caused fear and segregation, meanwhile
misunderstanding and misinformation continues to persist. Through people like Ryan
White and Magic Johnson we have learned to understand and accept those infected
with AIDS and HIV. Since high profile infections, as in Charlie Sheen, continue to
emerge, it is clear that we need to continue to spread awareness of aids and lifestyle
choices. There may never be a cure for aids but I believe we have the technology and
knowledge to beat it.