Magic Johnson Dedicates New World AIDS Museum

On November 7, 22 years to the day that basketball legend Magic Johnson announced that he was HIV-positive, the famed athlete was on hand to dedicate the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center in Wilton Manors, Florida.

"First of all, it's an honor to have Magic Johnson in our city," said Mayor Gary Resnick. "Anything that brings attention to AIDS and HIV is a tremendous benefit as many people think that the disease no longer exists and do not take steps to stop the disease from spreading, get tested or seek treatment."

Johnson shocked the country when the freewheeling, heterosexual basketball star announced in 1991 that he had contracted HIV. Rather than relegate himself to the shadows, Johnson became an example to the nation that HIV was not a disease affecting only gays and junkies. He has since contributed millions and helped countless numbers of people who are living with HIV.

The World AIDS Museum was conceived by the Fort Lauderdale-based HIV support group Pozitive Attitudes, when the facilitator Steve Stagon started creating historical HIV/AIDS exhibits for the group. The exhibits toured local high schools and Pride centers, until the idea of creating a museum took root. In Sept. 2011, the World AIDS Museum became a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

A long time in the making, the museum got legs when the Community Foundation of Broward approved a $94,000 capacity building grant. This spring, an anonymous individual donation of $10,000 got the board of directors fired up to match the funds. When Wilton Manors Mayor Gary Resnick proclaimed March 7, 2013 to be World AIDS Museum day, the project landed on the radar of the larger community.

"This is a phenomenal opportunity to move the World AIDS Museum and Educational Center forward," said Stagon, CEO and President of the Board. "Our initial fundraising efforts were highly successful and we certainly anticipate this challenge meeting equal success."

The mission of the museum is to increase awareness of the AIDS epidemic by documenting the history, remembering those lost to the disease, educating and enlightening the world to the tragedy and empowering those living with HIV/AIDS.

A T-shirt exhibit by Events Director David Friedland includes shirts, tanks, hats and pins from AIDS Walks, runs, races and benefits, with 46 shirts from across the country, some from the late artist/activist Keith Haring.

While working as an HIV prevention counselor, Emilio Aponte-Sierra created the Ribbon HIV visual art collection, featuring 22 pictures. And Ed Sparan used 10 years worth of HIV medication bottles to create the sculpture The 10-Year Ribbon.

"See, that's 10 years' worth," Sparan told the Sun Sentinel, as he gestured to the three-foot-tall amalgam of bottles held together by glue, liquid rubber and paint. "Magic is 21 years. His would be twice the size."

The museum features 52 framed pictures of celebs with HIV to put a name and face to the disease, and a new Famous Latinos with HIV/AIDS exhibit, developed for HIV Latino Awareness day, October 15.

Other exhibits include Sankofa: African-American History of HIV/AIDS, a look at the mythological bird of West Africa that flies forward while looking backwards, signifying the importance of learning from the past. There is also a world map of HIV in 60 countries, and a chronological timeline of the disease.

"For those who recall the 1980's and '90s, this museum is an important reminder of those we've lost to this disease, as well as that our support continues to be needed by those who are currently living with HIV/AIDS," said Krishan Manners, CEO/President of the Wilton Manors Development Alliance. "With current medications, it's easy to forget that HIV infections are still happening and we must continue to educate future generations to protect themselves, or -- for those living with HIV -- that we continue to support them."

The museum is fittingly located in Wilton Manors, as South Florida is the epicenter of the AIDS crisis in America, with nearby Miami-Dade and Broward counties clocking in with the highest rates of HIV infection in the country.