Earvin “Magic” Johnson said in an
Anderson Cooper 360 interview that he loves his gay son.
Johnson, who tested positive for HIV,
the virus that causes AIDS, more than two decades ago, described
himself as “the blessing and the curse of HIV.”
“I'm the blessing because people were
talking about it, they ran out and got tested at that time,”
Johnson told host Anderson Cooper. “Then I'm the curse because …
people now say, 'Oh well, HIV is nothing because if I get it I can be
like Magic. He's doing good, and I can do the same thing he's doing
or take the same medicine he's taking and I'll be okay.' But what
they don't understand, in 22 years, millions of people have died.”
On his 20-year-old gay son E.J.,
Johnson said “it was important that Cookie and I support our son.
We love our son.”
And to pastors and Christians who
voiced opposition, Johnson
said he told them: “Hey, I love my son, nothing is going to
change that. I don't care if you don't agree and you don't want to
deal with me or don't like me, that's on you, but I said tell me when
it hits your own family.” (The video is embedded on this page.
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