News Reader.info

By

AARP

When American diver Greg Louganis hit the back of his head on the diving board at the 1988 Olympics, he worried about whether he would be able to continue to compete, but also about whether

he should reveal that he was HIV-positive.

After getting four stitches, Louganis got back up on the board, and he went on to win the gold medal. But he didn’t tell anyone about his diagnosis.

At the time, there were many misconceptions about HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS. In many places, those who were HIV-positive faced discrimination and hostility. Louganis had been

diagnosed earlier in 1988, but he kept his status secret in order to compete in the Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. At the time, the country had imposed a travel ban against people with HIV.

It wasn’t until 1995 that Louganis announced he’d been living with HIV for nearly a decade.

“I’m finally free, and I can’t tell you how exhilarating that is,” he said at the time.

Today more than 1.1 million Americans are living with HIV, and more than 700,000 Americans have died from HIV since 1981, according to HIV.gov. World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, is used to show

support for people living with HIV and to remember those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. The first-ever global health day, World AIDS Day also calls attention to the need for new

treatments and funding for research, including the search for vaccines.

“Since I came out about being gay and also HIV-positive, I’ve seen a lot of change,” Louganis told AARP.

The U.S. government spends $20 billion annually on direct health expenditures for HIV prevention and care, according to HIV.gov. While contracting HIV was once a death sentence, today many

people with HIV go on to live full lives with the help of new and advanced medications that can suppress the level of virus in the body. In addition, there are drugs that can reduce the risk

of infection in the first place.

After revealing his HIV status and his sexuality, Louganis went on become an activist on behalf of those who have AIDS, are HIV-positive and are part of the LGBTQ+ community. “Opening up the

conversation — I think that’s been really key,” he said. “Because we’re afraid of what we don’t know.”

For more on Louganis’ story, watch the video above. ​

AARP NEWSLETTERS

%{ newsLetterPromoText  }%

%{ description }%

Privacy Hub

MORE FROM AARP

All-LGBTQ Mariachi Band Shatters Stereotypes

The music of Mariachi Arcoiris breaks barriers for performers and audiences

Bisexual Activist on Love and Losses During the AIDS Epidemic

ABilly S. Jones-Hennin reflects on society’s changing attitudes

{ "maxItems":3, "itemsPerRow":"3", "rows":"4", "loadMore":"6", "adsNum":"0", "resultsLength":"2" } Unlock Access to AARP Members Edition

Join AARP to Continue Already a Member? Login