David Fair

}}</ref> Doug Bowman and many others were instrumental in the passage of a 1982 amendment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/civil-rights-lgbt/philadelphia-gay-rights-bill-3/|title=Philadelphia Gay Rights Bill, 1982 - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia|website=philadelphiaencyclopedia.org}}</ref> to the Philadelphia Fair Practices Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Union, which itself had a large black LGBT membership, also became the base of Gay and Lesbian Friends of Wilson Goode, chaired by Fair. Goode was elected Philadelphia's [[Wilson Goode|first black mayor]] in 1983

}}</ref> Doug Bowman and many others were instrumental in the passage of a 1982 amendment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/civil-rights-lgbt/philadelphia-gay-rights-bill-3/|title=Philadelphia Gay Rights Bill, 1982 - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia|website=philadelphiaencyclopedia.org}}</ref> to the Philadelphia Fair Practices Act prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. The Union, which itself had a large black LGBT membership, also became the base of Gay and Lesbian Friends of Wilson Goode, chaired by Fair. Goode was elected Philadelphia's [[Wilson Goode|first black mayor]] in 1983

In 1984, Goode appointed Fair to form the city's first Mayor's Commission on Sexual Minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/184506991/?terms=%22david+fair%22+gay|title=3 Mar 1984, Page 8 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Also that year, Fair began years of anti-racist activism within the [[LGBT community]] with a speech to the annual dinner of Black and White Men Together Philadelphia, a local multiracial LGBT group which was honoring Fair with a community service award. In that speech, Fair decried the dominance of racist attitudes in the local white gay community, using as a prime example the closing of the only LGBT mental health agency in the city once it began to serve a predominately people of color clientele.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidfairwrites.net/}}</ref>

In 1984, Goode appointed Fair to form the city's first Mayor's Commission on Sexual Minorities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/184506991/?terms=%22david+fair%22+gay|title=3 Mar 1984, Page 8 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Also that year, Fair began years of anti-racist activism within the [[LGBT community]] with a speech to the annual dinner of Black and White Men Together Philadelphia, a local multiracial LGBT group which was honoring Fair with a community service award. In that speech, Fair decried the dominance of racist attitudes in the local white gay community, using as a prime example the closing of the only LGBT mental health agency in the city once it began to serve a predominately people of color clientele.

In 1985, as the AIDS epidemic grew in both the LGBT and racial minority communities, Fair encouraged Goode to create the Mayor's Commission on Health Emergencies, the first effort in the city government to create a local response to the AIDS epidemic. That same year, Fair gave the fledgling AIDS prevention organization, Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues (BEBASHI) its first office space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/aids-and-aids-activism/|title=AIDS and AIDS Activism - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia|website=philadelphiaencyclopedia.org}}</ref>

In 1985, as the AIDS epidemic grew in both the LGBT and racial minority communities, Fair encouraged Goode to create the Mayor's Commission on Health Emergencies, the first effort in the city government to create a local response to the AIDS epidemic. That same year, Fair gave the fledgling AIDS prevention organization, Blacks Educating Blacks About Sexual Health Issues (BEBASHI) its first office space.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://philadelphiaencyclopedia.org/archive/aids-and-aids-activism/|title=AIDS and AIDS Activism - Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia|website=philadelphiaencyclopedia.org}}</ref>

In 1986, Fair authored ''AIDS and Minorities in Philadelphia: A Crisis Ignored'' for BEBASHI and began participating in the organizing of African American and Latino LGBT people to combat the epidemic in their own communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/168779087/?terms=%22david+fair%22+gay|title=11 Mar 1986, Page 15 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com}}</ref> At the 1986 national convention of the [[National Association of Black and White Men Together]], Fair gave the keynote speech on white gay racism, which was later published in ''Speaking for Our Lives: Historic Speeches and Rhetoric for Gay and Lesbian Rights 1892-2000''. From that point until the mid-1990s, Fair became a leading organizer of anti-racism efforts in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/ead.html?q=%22david+fair%22&id=PACSCL_HSP_JJWSC0025&|title=Tommi Avicolli Mecca subject files, slides, and audiocassettes, 1971-1989|website=dla.library.upenn.edu}}</ref> These efforts were typified by a speech Fair gave to a town meeting sponsored by the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Community Council in 1989 focusing on the need to embrace [[intersectionality]] within the community to make progress.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidfairwrites.net/}}</ref>

In 1986, Fair authored ''AIDS and Minorities in Philadelphia: A Crisis Ignored'' for BEBASHI and began participating in the organizing of African American and Latino LGBT people to combat the epidemic in their own communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/168779087/?terms=%22david+fair%22+gay|title=11 Mar 1986, Page 15 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com}}</ref> At the 1986 national convention of the [[National Association of Black and White Men Together]], Fair gave the keynote speech on white gay racism, which was later published in ''Speaking for Our Lives: Historic Speeches and Rhetoric for Gay and Lesbian Rights 1892-2000''. From that point until the mid-1990s, Fair became a leading organizer of anti-racism efforts in the LGBT and HIV/AIDS communities in Philadelphia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dla.library.upenn.edu/dla/pacscl/ead.html?q=%22david+fair%22&id=PACSCL_HSP_JJWSC0025&|title=Tommi Avicolli Mecca subject files, slides, and audiocassettes, 1971-1989|website=dla.library.upenn.edu}}</ref> These efforts were typified by a speech Fair gave to a town meeting sponsored by the Philadelphia Gay and Lesbian Community Council in 1989 focusing on the need to embrace [[intersectionality]] within the community to make progress.

The controversies surrounding the organizing by Fair and other activists, both black and white, among Philadelphia communities of color are detailed in ''To Make the Wounded Whole: The African American Struggle Against HIV/AIDS'' a book by Dan Royles at the University of North Carolina.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidfairwrites.net/}}</ref>

The controversies surrounding the organizing by Fair and other activists, both black and white, among Philadelphia communities of color are detailed in ''To Make the Wounded Whole: The African American Struggle Against HIV/AIDS'' a book by Dan Royles at the University of North Carolina.

Fair's efforts resulted in numerous awards, including, in 1989–90, from the AIDS in the Barrio Conference, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission, Unity/Philadelphia, Dignity/Philadelphia, the Philadelphia City Council, and the Mayor's Office. A video produced by Fair, ''Epidemic: The AIDS Emergency in Philadelphia'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/80629/look-here-beautiful-images-from-30-years-of-philad.html |title=Look Here! Beautiful Images From 30 Years of Philadelphia AIDS Activism |website=The Body |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=November 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128225231/http://www.thebody.com/content/80629/look-here-beautiful-images-from-30-years-of-philad.html |archive-date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> won him the Communicator of the Year Award from the Public Relations Society of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the CINE Award for Video Excellence.

Fair's efforts resulted in numerous awards, including, in 1989–90, from the AIDS in the Barrio Conference, the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations, the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission, Unity/Philadelphia, Dignity/Philadelphia, the Philadelphia City Council, and the Mayor's Office. A video produced by Fair, ''Epidemic: The AIDS Emergency in Philadelphia'',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebody.com/content/80629/look-here-beautiful-images-from-30-years-of-philad.html |title=Look Here! Beautiful Images From 30 Years of Philadelphia AIDS Activism |website=The Body |last=Murphy |first=Tim |date=November 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171128225231/http://www.thebody.com/content/80629/look-here-beautiful-images-from-30-years-of-philad.html |archive-date=November 28, 2017 |access-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> won him the Communicator of the Year Award from the Public Relations Society of Southeastern Pennsylvania and the CINE Award for Video Excellence.

In November, 1987, Philadelphia Mayor Goode asked Fair to revitalize the city's lagging HIV/AIDS programs by leading the formation of the [[AIDS Activities Coordinating Office]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169924743/?terms=%22david+r.+fair%22|title=23 Nov 1987, Page 16 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Goode provided Fair with a special $6 million ($16.3 million in 2023 dollars) allocation of unrestricted city funds, leading to the creation of a network of HIV-related services including prevention education, HIV testing and linkage to care, case management, housing, pediatric services, home care, behavioral health and other services. Shortly after his appointment, Fair kicked off the new comprehensive response to the epidemic in Philadelphia with a speech to the Neighborhood Summit on AIDS calling for a recognition that defeating AIDS meant organizing neighborhoods to combat HIV infection among all of those affected, including gay people of color, those fighting addiction, women and others who had historically been ignored by AIDS organizations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidfairwrites.net/}}</ref>

In November, 1987, Philadelphia Mayor Goode asked Fair to revitalize the city's lagging HIV/AIDS programs by leading the formation of the [[AIDS Activities Coordinating Office]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169924743/?terms=%22david+r.+fair%22|title=23 Nov 1987, Page 16 - The Philadelphia Inquirer at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Goode provided Fair with a special $6 million ($16.3 million in 2023 dollars) allocation of unrestricted city funds, leading to the creation of a network of HIV-related services including prevention education, HIV testing and linkage to care, case management, housing, pediatric services, home care, behavioral health and other services. Shortly after his appointment, Fair kicked off the new comprehensive response to the epidemic in Philadelphia with a speech to the Neighborhood Summit on AIDS calling for a recognition that defeating AIDS meant organizing neighborhoods to combat HIV infection among all of those affected, including gay people of color, those fighting addiction, women and others who had historically been ignored by AIDS organizations.

Embroiled in controversy because of his advocacy for more resources to combat the HIV epidemic,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186393520/?terms=david+fair|title=7 Feb 1990, Page 10 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Fair left the AIDS office in 1990 to lead the city's only advocacy organization composed of people living with HIV, called We The People Living with AIDS/HIV of the Delaware Valley. While at We The People, Fair expanded its drop-in center from 8 hours per day weekdays to 15 hours/day seven days a week, and established a case management and housing counseling program, a meals program, a clothing bank and other basic needs programs. On the advocacy front, Fair led efforts to assure equal representation of people living with HIV on HIV/AIDS planning councils and expansion of housing services for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186646497/?terms=%22david+fair%22|title=19 May 1993, Page 37 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> He also published a monthly newspaper on HIV/AIDS called ''Alive & Kicking!'' along with a weekly update, ''fastfax.''

Embroiled in controversy because of his advocacy for more resources to combat the HIV epidemic,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186393520/?terms=david+fair|title=7 Feb 1990, Page 10 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> Fair left the AIDS office in 1990 to lead the city's only advocacy organization composed of people living with HIV, called We The People Living with AIDS/HIV of the Delaware Valley. While at We The People, Fair expanded its drop-in center from 8 hours per day weekdays to 15 hours/day seven days a week, and established a case management and housing counseling program, a meals program, a clothing bank and other basic needs programs. On the advocacy front, Fair led efforts to assure equal representation of people living with HIV on HIV/AIDS planning councils and expansion of housing services for homeless people living with HIV/AIDS.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/186646497/?terms=%22david+fair%22|title=19 May 1993, Page 37 - Philadelphia Daily News at Newspapers.com}}</ref> He also published a monthly newspaper on HIV/AIDS called ''Alive & Kicking!'' along with a weekly update, ''fastfax.''

In February 2025, HBO/MAX released the third series of the [[Eyes on the Prize]] franchise, covering the period 1977-2015. The first episode in the series included a segment on the efforts of Philadelphia activists to draw attention to the impact of the AIDS epidemic in communities of color in the late 1980s featuring Fair and fellow activists Rashidah Abdul-Khabeer, [[Michael S. Hinson Jr.]], and Tyrone Smith. Abdul-Khabeer and Fair were honored for their work at an advance screening of the episode at the Schomburg Center in New York City the day before the TV premiere.

In February 2025, HBO/MAX released the third series of the [[Eyes on the Prize]] franchise, covering the period 1977-2015. The first episode in the series included a segment on the efforts of Philadelphia activists to draw attention to the impact of the AIDS epidemic in communities of color in the late 1980s featuring Fair and fellow activists Rashidah Abdul-Khabeer, [[Michael S. Hinson Jr.]], and Tyrone Smith. Abdul-Khabeer and Fair were honored for their work at an advance screening of the episode at the Schomburg Center in New York City the day before the TV premiere.

In June, 2025, Fair was invited by Philadelphia FIGHT, one of the city's oldest AIDS clinics and service organizations, to give the keynote speech at the organization's annual HIV Education Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Fair's speech emphasized the efforts of the Trump Administration to eliminate many AIDS programs both in the United States and Africa, and called for nonviolent but aggressive campaigns to resist the Trump Administration's plans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.davidfairwrites.net/}}</ref> A shorter version of the speech was published in the Philadelphia Gay News.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://epgn.com/2025/07/02/time-to-act-up-again/ |title=Time to 'ACT UP' again? }}</ref>

In June, 2025, Fair was invited by Philadelphia FIGHT, one of the city's oldest AIDS clinics and service organizations, to give the keynote speech at the organization's annual HIV Education Conference at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Fair's speech emphasized the efforts of the Trump Administration to eliminate many AIDS programs both in the United States and Africa, and called for nonviolent but aggressive campaigns to resist the Trump Administration's plans. A shorter version of the speech was published in the Philadelphia Gay News.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://epgn.com/2025/07/02/time-to-act-up-again/ |title=Time to 'ACT UP' again? }}</ref>

== Children's Services and Advocacy ==

== Children's Services and Advocacy ==

== Personal life ==

== Personal life ==

Fair lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia.

Fair lives in the Germantown section of Philadelphia. He lived there with his partner, Rudard Robinson, from 1996 until Robinson's death on June 11, 2024. Once LGBT marriage became legal in Pennsylvania, they were officially married on July 17, 2014, by the Rev. Dr. W. Wilson Goode Sr., the former mayor of Philadelphia.

== References ==

== References ==