Ray brothers
Encyclopedia
Ricky Robert D (January 27, 1978 - October 20, 2000) and Randy Ray (born 1979) were three hemophiliac
brothers who were diagnosed with HIV
in 1986. The media coverage following the burning of their family home and activism of the Ray family is often considered a signal event in the history of AIDS
in the United States
.
natives Louise and Clifford Ray, they were the subject of a federal court battle against the De Soto County School Board to allow the children to attend public school despite their diagnosis. Although the Rays were victorious in their legal battle, the Ray home was burned down a week after the 1987 decision, forcing the family to leave Arcadia.
Ricky Ray died in 1992 at age 15. Prior to his death, he made headlines by planning to marry his 17 year old girlfriend, but a judge blocked the wedding because of his age. Robert was 22 when AIDS claimed him in 2000. Shortly thereafter, their father, Clifford Ray, attempted suicide but failed. Randy Ray lives in Orlando, Florida, and manages his HIV through medication.
Haemophilia
Haemophilia is a group of hereditary genetic disorders that impair the body's ability to control blood clotting or coagulation, which is used to stop bleeding when a blood vessel is broken. Haemophilia A is the most common form of the disorder, present in about 1 in 5,000–10,000 male births...
brothers who were diagnosed with HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
in 1986. The media coverage following the burning of their family home and activism of the Ray family is often considered a signal event in the history of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
The sons of Arcadia, FloridaArcadia, Florida
Arcadia is a city in DeSoto County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,604 as of the 2000 census. According to the U.S Census estimates of 2005, the city grew to 7,151. It is the county seat of DeSoto County; it is also DeSoto County's only incorporated community. On October 27, 2009,...
natives Louise and Clifford Ray, they were the subject of a federal court battle against the De Soto County School Board to allow the children to attend public school despite their diagnosis. Although the Rays were victorious in their legal battle, the Ray home was burned down a week after the 1987 decision, forcing the family to leave Arcadia.
Ricky Ray died in 1992 at age 15. Prior to his death, he made headlines by planning to marry his 17 year old girlfriend, but a judge blocked the wedding because of his age. Robert was 22 when AIDS claimed him in 2000. Shortly thereafter, their father, Clifford Ray, attempted suicide but failed. Randy Ray lives in Orlando, Florida, and manages his HIV through medication.
Sources
- Donnelly, John. "Ricky Ray loses AIDS battle". The Miami HeraldThe Miami HeraldThe Miami Herald is a daily newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company headquartered on Biscayne Bay in the Omni district of Downtown Miami, Florida, United States...
. 1992/12/14: - Craig Basse and Mike Brassfield. "Robert Ray, 22, succumbs to longtime AIDS struggle". St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
. October 21, 2000 - Buckley, Stephen. "Slow change of heart". St. Petersburg Times. September 2, 20o1