ACT UP Alum Frank Smithson Needs Our Help

Our ACT UP comrade needs emergency help. A friend of his, Lucien Samaha, checked in with him via text this week, and he replied that he was scared and about to become homeless. He's COVID positive, short of breath/fever/etc.; his cell phone was cut-off (I paid the amount due to get it turned back on); he has been "selling my belongings for food" and might be "homeless in a few weeks."

I know Frank well from the first few years of ACT UP New York. He was my partner-in-crime selling our merchandise -- a constant presence behind the t-shirt table, hauling boxes of stuff from event to event, raising thousands of dollars for our major demonstrations. He also threw some of ACT UP's most memorable parties to keep us all sane. Everyone, and I mean everyone, loved Frank.

So let's help get him back on his feet. Lucien and I will stay in touch with him to help figure out housing, etc. The first amounts raised will go towards the past-due $521 Verizon bill. I'll post updates on the ACT UP NY Alumni page on Facebook, and we can all figure out the best way to support him with the money raised here.

If for some reason he doesn't need all the money raised during this campaign, I'll donate the balance to ACT UP New York.