Paul Popham
Encyclopedia
Paul Graham Popham was an American
gay rights activist who served as the president of the Gay Men's Health Crisis
from 1981 until 1985. He also helped found and was chairman of the AIDS Action Council, a lobbying organization in Washington. He was the basis for the character of Bruce Niles in Larry Kramer
's The Normal Heart
, which was one of the first plays to address the HIV/AIDS crisis.
, and graduated from from Portland (Oregon) State College.
He was a Vietnam War veteran, who was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in 1966, serving as a first lieutenant in the Fifth Air Cavalry. He retired in 1969 as a Special Forces major in the Army Reserve.
"From 1969 until 1980, Mr. Popham worked for the Irving Trust Company, leaving as a vice president." Thereafter, he joined McGraw-Hill Inc..
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gay rights activist who served as the president of the Gay Men's Health Crisis
Gay Men's Health Crisis
The Gay Men's Health Crisis is a New York City-based non-profit, volunteer-supported and community-based AIDS service organization that has led the United States in the fight against AIDS.-1980s:...
from 1981 until 1985. He also helped found and was chairman of the AIDS Action Council, a lobbying organization in Washington. He was the basis for the character of Bruce Niles in Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer
Larry Kramer is an American playwright, author, public health advocate, and LGBT rights activist. He began his career rewriting scripts while working for Columbia Pictures, which led him to London where he worked with United Artists. There he wrote the screenplay for Women in Love in 1969, earning...
's The Normal Heart
The Normal Heart
The Normal Heart is a largely autobiographical play by Larry Kramer. It focuses on the rise of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York City between 1981 and 1984, as seen through the eyes of writer/activist Ned Weeks, the gay Jewish-American founder of a prominent HIV advocacy group...
, which was one of the first plays to address the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Early life and career
Born in Emmett, IdahoEmmett, Idaho
Emmett is a city in Gem County, Idaho, United States. The population was 5,490 at the 2000 census; it was estimated to have risen to 6,341 by 2007...
, and graduated from from Portland (Oregon) State College.
He was a Vietnam War veteran, who was awarded the Bronze Star for valor in 1966, serving as a first lieutenant in the Fifth Air Cavalry. He retired in 1969 as a Special Forces major in the Army Reserve.
"From 1969 until 1980, Mr. Popham worked for the Irving Trust Company, leaving as a vice president." Thereafter, he joined McGraw-Hill Inc..