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Tribute by Ernest Hopkins, San Francisco AIDS Foundation, Director of Federal Affairs
My name is Ernest Hopkins and I am the Director of Federal Affairs
for the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. I thank Keith's family,
Housing Works and especially Charles for the opportunity to
honor Keith and share my reflections on Keith's contributions
to my life.
Since 1993, when we met at my first Cities Advocating Emergency
AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition meeting, we have been brothers,
collaborators, instigators, infiltrators and agitators—with
different styles—but always the same agenda.
Maureen Dowd reminded me on Sunday of one of Keith's greatest
contributions to the AIDS movement. She asked the question in
the context of the current situation in Iraq. Keith asked it
in a myriad of ways about our fight against HIV/AIDS and a government
that pays far too little notice of the disaster that surrounds
us. The question is but while we try to turn them into us, who
have we become?
For Keith, integrity was all.
It defined his advocacy and his life. He was the best of us
and we celebrate his time with us.
Keith loved to strategize. That was something that we had in
common. After an especially successful series of congressional
visits on Capitol Hill—Keith would turn to me smiling and say…
I want to be just like you when I grow up.
I would turn to him, smiling, and call him a choice name or
two—since he was older—and the exchange would always elicit
the same response from Keith. He would snap his head back—locks
whipping the air and let out that howling cackle of a laugh—that
for me—exemplified the freedom of spirit that I cherished so
much in Keith.
When I got the early morning call from Gina Quattrochi that
Keith was dead. I remember saying: "Oh Wow" my mind filled with
memories of a week earlier in Miami on my birthday—our last
time together. We spent the day together to celebrate—and celebrate
we did. Accompanied by Mark McLaurin we spent the day on slow
motion…
Talking, shopping, and debating—all broken up by lunch and pit
stops for ice cream, or coffee or cocktails. We laughed at the
stares 3 Black gay men received from locals as we strutted Lincoln
Road. We walked the beach at sunset, bought Dominican cigars
and CDs of the dance music that he loved.
At dinner we were joined by Patrick McGovern and debated the
plight of Black Gay Men's HIV Prevention efforts and what could
and should be done. During the debate, Keith played his favorite
role… "Devil's Advocate" and proceeded to push all our buttons.
He pushed until he was satisfied that the issues had been fully
vetted. It was a game we had played many times before. I cherished
the rigor of the debate, the quickness of his mind, the passion
of his convictions and the strength of his commitment.
Keith contributed much to many—most of who will never know his
name. And unfortunately the fights he fought are not resolved.
That is why Housing Works remains so important to us. And that
is why I commit myself on behalf of the AIDS Foundation, the
CAEAR Coalition and the National AIDS Housing Coalition families
to keep the fight against HIV/AIDS, homelessness, poverty, discrimination
against substance users, homophobia, racism and health disparities
going until the war is won.
Keith, Rest My Brother
Job Well Done.
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