NEW YORK — David Mixner, a longtime LGBTQ+ activist who was an adviser to Bill Clinton during his presidential campaign and later called him out over the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy regarding gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or queer personnel in the military, has died. He was 77.
Mixner died Monday at his home in New York City, according to Annise Parker, president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. Mixner had been in hospice for some time, Parker said. In 1991, Mixner was one of the founding members of the organization that recruits and supports LGBTQ+ political candidates.
“David was a courageous, resilient and unyielding force for social change at a time when our community faced widespread discrimination and an HIV/AIDS crisis ignored by the political class in Washington, DC,” the Victory Fund said in a statement Monday. “In 1987, David joined one of the first HIV/AIDS protests outside the Reagan White House, where police wore latex gloves because of the stigma and misinformation around HIV/AIDS,” and was arrested.
Mixner believed that the LGBTQ+ community needed to be visibly and consistently involved in the political process and “dragged people along with him,” Parker said. He was social and witty and had a big personality, she said, but added that it was his moral compass that people should remember the most: He was willing to speak up and stand up.
“He got other people to be involved but he also held people accountable,” Parker said. “When politicians didn’t make their commitments, he was willing to call them out on it.”
Mixner, who was credited with raising millions of dollars for Clinton from gay and lesbian voters, angered the White House in 1993 by attacking then-U.S. Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga. In a speech, Mixner called Nunn, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, an “old-fashioned bigot” for opposing Clinton’s plan to lift the ban on gays in the military.
When Clinton began to compromise with Congress and the Pentagon on the issue later that year, Mixner accused the White House of misleading gay leaders. He said Clinton “sacrificed the freedom of millions for your own political expediency.” Days later, Mixner was among more than two dozen people arrested in front of the White House in a protest of Clinton’s retreat from his campaign pledge to lift the ban by executive order.
Neil Giuliano, the former mayor of Tempe, Arizona, traveled to New York last month to visit with Mixner, whom he had known for decades, and they talked about politics and life and the afterlife.
“Facing death compels one to be totally bare and totally honest,” he said.
Giuliano described Mixner as an “activist with grace” who was influential with people at all levels.
“It’s not like he wasn’t angry, but he came forward with a way of talking about issues and with such grace and he presented in such a way that brought people in and didn’t keep people out,” said Giuliano, who now serves on the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund’s board. “I think that’s why so many people were drawn to him.”
David Mixner, a prominent LGBTQ+ activist and former advisor to President Bill Clinton, has passed away at the age of 77. Mixner was a tireless advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and played a significant role in shaping the political landscape for the community.
Mixner was born on August 16, 1946, in Elmer, New Jersey. He came out as gay at a young age and quickly became involved in activism. In the 1960s, he was a vocal opponent of the Vietnam War and participated in numerous protests and demonstrations.
Mixner’s activism continued throughout his life, and he became a key figure in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. He worked on several political campaigns, including those of Senator George McGovern and President Bill Clinton. Mixner was instrumental in helping Clinton secure the support of the LGBTQ+ community during his presidential campaign.
Mixner also founded several organizations dedicated to LGBTQ+ rights, including the Municipal Elections Committee of Los Angeles (MECLA) and the American Foundation for Equal Rights. He was a vocal advocate for marriage equality and played a crucial role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States.
Mixner’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community was profound, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of activists. His dedication to equality and justice has left a lasting mark on the world, and he will be remembered as a trailblazer in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights.
In a statement following Mixner’s passing, President Bill Clinton praised him as “a true champion for equality and justice” and expressed his gratitude for Mixner’s tireless advocacy.
Mixner’s passing is a loss for the LGBTQ+ community and all those who knew him. He will be remembered as a fearless advocate for equality and a pioneer in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched and the progress he helped achieve.
