Through and because of the work of Phil Kucab (@PhillipKucab) I was honored to see and meet Jeanne White-Ginder, who was in Washington, DC on the 25th Anniversary of the Ryan White Care Act.
Nancy Pelosi (@NancyPelosi) and Jim McDermott (@RepJimMcDermott) reminded the audience in their comments that the world was once an unkind place for people it didn’t understand, and, more importantly, the kindness and societal transformation that arose as a result.
I actually quoted Nancy Pelosi on this blog 6 years ago, when she said this (“Shattered ceilings, doors, and computer screens – Speaker of the United States House Nancy Pelosi and Regina Holliday“), that I still remember to this day.
“When I was sworn in for my first term, I was advised not to say very much. However, I was given the floor as the newest representative, to address the Congress. I said,”I came from San Francisco to fight for funding for HIV and AIDS.
They approached me afterwards and said, “Is that the first impression you want to create with these people?”
I said,”well that’s what I came here to do.”
We now know in 2016 that physicians harbor the same conscious and unconscious biases of the community they are a part of – they are not special or less biased than the people that they serve.
Their behavior as a profession during the time Ryan White was alive, at times profoundly unethical, left a mark, and also created a generation of physicians today who are changing everything, which includes Phil, who will be receiving his M.D. degree shortly. That’s what they/we came here to do.
Rest of the photos below, including the scrapbook that Jeanne brought of memories from Ryan’s life. Enjoy.