In Memoriam: Barry Busch, AIDS Warrior

Barry Busch, an activist living with HIV who fought fiercely and tirelessly for justice, died Wednesday July 11, 2007 in Chester, Pennsylvania.

Barry believed passionately in the importance of challenging this country to deliver on its obligations at a local, national and international level. This passion was part of everything he did, from organizing people with HIV and their allies to fight for access to medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, to fighting the names-based reporting of people with HIV, to demanding justice for people with HIV living in sub Saharan Africa. Barry was well known among organizations working in the U.S. to increase access to marijuana for medical use, launching the American Spirit campaign to win legislation to permit medical use of marijuana in Pennsylvania.

He was an impatient, tenacious, and sometimes intimidating leader in ACT UP Philadelphia, an organization where he was a longtime beloved member. Barry seemed fearless--especially about his own health problems. Barry's physical illnesses never seemed to get in his way; he rarely complained about the problems his body faced; sometimes it seemed like he would not accept any obstacle--political or otherwise--the world presented to him.

We will all miss him greatly, and we cherish the impact he has had on us, and on our common struggles. his tremendous efforts will undoubtedly continue to make its mark on the world. Our heart goes out to his family and
friends.

Barry's family requests that donations in Barry's name be made to ACT UP Philadelphia (www.critpath.org/actup) or to the Bread & Roses Community Fund (www.breadrosesfund.org).

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