December 18, 2012

HIV/AIDS Activist Spencer Cox Dies

Spencer Cox, 44, a veteran of ACT UP and the Treatment Action Group (TAG), has died of pneumonia. The HIV-positive activist wrote several columns for POZ magazine and blogged on poz.com.

He was recently featured in How to Survive a Plague, an award-winning documentary that uses archival footage to tell the history of AIDS treatment activism.

“One of the visceral things the film brought back for me is the rage that is still almost as fresh as the days when I first discovered it,” he wrote in a recent blog post.

Mark Harrington, the executive director of TAG, told The New York Times that Cox had apparently stopped taking his HIV medications. “He saved the lives of millions, but he couldn’t save his own,” said Harrington.

Gay City News reports that a memorial has been tentatively scheduled for January 20 at 3 p.m. at the Cutting Room in New York City at 44 East 32 Street in Manhattan.

POZ will pass along any further details as they become available.

To read his POZ columns, click here.

To read his POZ blog, click here.

Search: Spencer Cox, ACT UP, Treatment Action Group, TAG, How to Survive a Plague

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Previous Comments:

Dave, Cork, 2013-01-06 01:28:25
You are a man with big heart Spencer, you fought for millions to survive and slip away so fast. Your hardwork will continue, so shall your name be written in golds. Adieu Cox.

Daniel Angelis, Bethlehem, PA, 2012-12-31 21:14:37
Our condelences and prayers go out to Spencer and his family.

David Shamer, Finksburg, 2012-12-23 05:24:13
Thank you Mr. Cox for your service to the HIV/AIDS community.

Antonio Davis, Philadelphia, 2012-12-21 11:11:41
My condolences goes out to your family and their in my prayers. You will be greatly missed But not forgotten and your work will continue. Thank you for your hard work and dedication over the decades. Antonio Davis, Act-UP Philadelphia

DANBOY66, Oakland, Ca., 2012-12-21 08:03:47
RIP, My Brother & Thank for your Hard wrk & Voice you given of all those years. U will be miss.

samuel olowookere, osogbo, 2012-12-21 04:18:28
I wish him rest in peace and the family the fortitude to bear this great loss. He did his bit while he was with us and help to combat this deadly virus. He was a source of inspiration for us living in subsaharan Africa

Raymond Hilerio, Bethlehem, 2012-12-20 22:37:57
How can someone die of pneumonia now a days. The article falls short of disclosing whether it was from aids. But we know. Don't we? I think that we are not beign told the truth about a lot of things.

Jon, San Francisco, 2012-12-20 16:38:19
Why is someone dying of pneumonia or any AIDS related illness these days. Is there something changing the course of the disease that the public needs to know about? No one, in the US, should be dying of an AIDS related illness. We've come to far!

Rich, Marietta, GA, 2012-12-20 16:23:43
What a tragedy that anyone let alone someone of such influence of change dies of pneumonia these days at such an early age!!!! I'm 45 and have been poz for over 27 years and had PCP pneumonia back in the early 90s but since the new meds of the mid 90s, I haven't had a single OI and am healthier than most of my neg counterparts. I'm assuming that Spencer was having difficulty with treatments working for him for this to have happened to him. I guess I should count my blessings. RIP Spencer

Robert, Dayton, 2012-12-20 12:11:00
Rest in peace my friend. I will miss you!!

elizajane, Boston, 2012-12-19 12:45:18
You will be greatly missed, Spencer.

Ray, seattle, 2012-12-19 03:01:35
How old was him? And how long been Positive? Why people still die from HIV at this days? Can we really living normal life expectancy with HIV....?

Ian, Los Angeles, 2012-12-18 14:45:13
RIP Spencer Cox. Thank you for bringing attention to this epidemic and for keeping so many of us alive.