Mary Fisher (activist)

Mary Fisher
Born
Lizabeth Davis Frehling

(1948-04-06) April 6, 1948 (age 76)
Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Kingswood School
Occupation(s)Activist, artist, author
Known forAIDS activism
Spouse(s)Brian Campbell (1987–?; divorced)
Children2
Websitewww.maryfisher.com

Mary Fisher (born April 6, 1948) is an American political activist, artist and author. After contracting HIV from her second husband, she has become an outspoken HIV/AIDS-activist for the prevention, education and for the compassionate treatment of people with HIV and AIDS. Fisher is particularly noted for speeches before two Republican Conventions: Houston in 1992 and San Diego in 1996. The 1992 speech has been hailed as "one of the best American speeches of the 20th Century".[1]

She is the founder of a non-profit organization to fund HIV/AIDS research and education, the Mary Fisher Clinical AIDS Research and Education (CARE) Fund. Since May 2006, she has been a global emissary for the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).[2]

  1. ^ Shaw, Dan (August 22, 2012). "Defined by Words, Not by a Disease". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Press release (May 18, 2006). "World Renowned Artist, Author and Activist Mary Fisher Accepts Appointment as UNAIDS Special Representative" (PDF). Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS. Retrieved August 23, 2012.