When I was 8 years old, I visited a family friend who was on his deathbed. I didn’t know why he was dying. He was only in his thirties. He was never sick. But there he lay, frail, thin and suffering from an unknown ailment.
That was 1986, a time when the AIDS epidemic hit the United States. And although no one said it then out of fear, I now know that he died of AIDS. Many of us know someone who has been diagnosed with HIV. Some of us have watched loved ones pass on. If you haven’t known anyone personally, you’ve known of celebrities. AIDS is a disease that doesn’t discriminate according to wealth, fame or status.
In honor of World AIDS Day on December 1, we celebrate the lives of celebrities who’ve passed from AIDS. As always, please stay informed and protect yourselves by having safe sex.
