1985

AIDS became a household name after the death of Hollywood star Rock Hudson.  Despite the heavy media attention of Hudson and his illness, the Republican controlled government stalled on requests by the CDC for funding to help control the spread of AIDS, and many have since criticized former President Ronald Reagan for turning a blind eye to the epidemic because it was widely believed to mostly affect homosexuals. 

This misconception was broken after 13-year old Ryan White, a hemophiliac who contracted HIV from a blood transfusion, was barred from attending his Indiana public school because he had AIDS.  White made headlines after winning a court battle to return to his classroom.