Bobbi Campbell
Encyclopedia
Bobbi Campbell was an early United States
AIDS
activist. In September 1981, Campbell became the 16th person in San Francisco to be diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma
. He was the first to come out
publicly as a person living with the then unnamed disease. He became known as the "KS Poster Boy" (even appearing with his partner on the cover of Newsweek
on August 8, 1983), and wrote a column for the San Francisco Sentinel
from January 1982 describing his experiences. Campbell, who was also a registered nurse, joined the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
at the time of the health crisis in early 1982; in his "sister" persona as Sister Florence Nightmare, he co-authored the first San Francisco safer-sex manual, "Play Fair!", written in plain sex-positive
language, offering practical advice and adding an element of humour.
In 1983, Campbell and Dan Turner, who had been diagnosed in February 1982, founded the People With AIDS Self-Empowerment Movement or PWA Movement.
The name "Bobbi Campbell" and the names of several other key figures of the time were featured in the 2007-08 American Mock Trial Association National Case Problem. The fictional case was used by over 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and was dedicated to the social and scientific pioneers in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He died of AIDS complications on August 15, 1984.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
activist. In September 1981, Campbell became the 16th person in San Francisco to be diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma
Kaposi's sarcoma is a tumor caused by Human herpesvirus 8 , also known as Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus . It was originally described by Moritz Kaposi , a Hungarian dermatologist practicing at the University of Vienna in 1872. It became more widely known as one of the AIDS defining...
. He was the first to come out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
publicly as a person living with the then unnamed disease. He became known as the "KS Poster Boy" (even appearing with his partner on the cover of Newsweek
Newsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
on August 8, 1983), and wrote a column for the San Francisco Sentinel
San Francisco Sentinel
The San Francisco Sentinel is an online newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities of the San Francisco Bay Area...
from January 1982 describing his experiences. Campbell, who was also a registered nurse, joined the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence
The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence , also called Order of Perpetual Indulgence in Australia and elsewhere, is a charity, protest, and street performance organization that uses drag and Catholic imagery to call attention to sexual intolerance and satirize issues of gender and morality...
at the time of the health crisis in early 1982; in his "sister" persona as Sister Florence Nightmare, he co-authored the first San Francisco safer-sex manual, "Play Fair!", written in plain sex-positive
Sex-positive
The sex-positive movement is an ideology which promotes and embraces open sexuality with few limits. Sex positivity is "an attitude towards human sexuality that regards all consensual sexual activities as fundamentally healthy and pleasurable, and encourages sexual pleasure and experimentation...
language, offering practical advice and adding an element of humour.
In 1983, Campbell and Dan Turner, who had been diagnosed in February 1982, founded the People With AIDS Self-Empowerment Movement or PWA Movement.
The name "Bobbi Campbell" and the names of several other key figures of the time were featured in the 2007-08 American Mock Trial Association National Case Problem. The fictional case was used by over 300 colleges and universities throughout the United States and was dedicated to the social and scientific pioneers in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
He died of AIDS complications on August 15, 1984.