This Pride month, author and public health advocate Dano Moreno debuts Hope for Ryan White, a picture book about White, who in 1984 became one of the first children diagnosed with AIDS, sparking conversation and raising awareness about HIV.

In an interview with ABC7 News, Moreno, who is gay, said the goal of the book was to “bring [Ryan’s] story to a new generation of kids who may not have ever heard of him.”

White, who was born with hemophilia, contracted HIV at age 13  after a blood transfusion. He faced intense AIDS-related discrimination from his Indiana community when he attempted to return to school after his diagnosis. While he and his mother, Jeanne White Ginder, fought tirelessly for his right to attend school, they educated the public and gained national attention.

“My hope is that this story continues to inspire kids to stand up for themselves and each other. It teaches children about a time when misinformation was widespread,” said Moreno, who lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband and son. “That’s certainly a relevant theme today.”

Ryan’s legacy and impact have never waned. For more than 30 years, the federal Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program has helped low-income people living with HIV receive medical care, medications and support services to help them stay in care. The program has played a critical role in the U.S. public health response to HIV. According to 2021 data, more than 50% of people with diagnosed HIV—575,661, to be exact—received services through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.

Learn more about the program in the video below, “30 Years of HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program”:

The book’s description reads: “When Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS as a teenager in 1984, doctors gave him just six months to live. With the time he had left, all he wanted was to lead a normal life, go to school, and spend time with friends. Instead, he faced discrimination from people who didn’t understand his illness—but he didn’t let that stop him. Ryan kicked off a heroic battle to educate the world about a disease that was spreading rapidly and killing more and more people each year. By sharing his story, he helped change the conversation and raise awareness of an epidemic that still affects us today.”

Available for preorder now, Hope for Ryan White comes out June 22.

Click here to learn more about #Ryan White and the #Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program.