INDIANAPOLIS — The story of Ryan White loomed over much of Paul Renfro’s childhood.
“I learned about HIV and AIDS through the story of Ryan White,” Renfro said. “Obviously, I was told a very simplistic, sort of morality tale about Ryan White. There are certain elements of that story that are true, but also it’s a far more complex story.”
The story of Ryan White captivated the world.
WRTV Archives “This was a huge media story,” Renfro said. “Journalists descended upon Kokomo and Russiaville from across the country and really around the world. Everybody was was here covering this story and a lot of these themes concerning innocence, acceptability and normality.”
Themes Renfro explores in his latest book, “The Life and Death of Ryan White AIDS and Inequality in America.”
WRTV “Ryan White became the face of AIDS, and he became the innocent face of AIDS,” Renfro said. “There’s this idea that he contracted this through no fault of his own, and the implication is that others were somehow to blame for contracting HIV.”