Activist/Writer Brad Crelia Dies Aged 29

Brad Crelia: Activist/Writer
August 29, 1985-November 19, 2014

After a long battle with porphyria and other health issues, HIV and LGBTQ advocate/activist and writer Brad Crelia died Wednesday, November 19, 2014 in his hometown of Spokane, Washington.  He was 29 years old.

From his obituary at Poz.com:

Six months after learning he was HIV positive, Crelia launched Hivster.com in 2010. The website ceased operations earlier this year, but their Facebook page continued.

Hivster.com describes itself on Facebook as “an online magazine for forward-thinking, hip/alternative men and women who are sex-positive, gritty, boundary pushing and politically progressive.” A print magazine was planned.

Crelia also worked with the Spokane AIDS Network and served on the board of the Odyssey Youth Center. He was active in politics, most recently working as a policy advisor for the Spokane City Council marijuana policy committee.

In recognition of his work as a journalist and activist, Crelia was a 2014 POZ 100 honoree.

A Spokane native, Brad also spent time in Seattle and New York City and it’s relatively safe to say that everywhere Brad lived, he managed to score another legion of friends and fans. During his time in Seattle, Brad became a good friend to many of us as he worked on creating Hivster.com. SGS is proud we got to be part of Brad’s journey and he contributed several stories to the site during his time in Seattle, including a moving essay on marching in his first AIDS Walk as an HIV positive man. Please, check it out.

Brad’s charming tenaciousness and his fierce commitment to achieving social change for not only the poz community but all queer people, was just one part of his appeal. His warmth and charisma and intelligence and compassion for all people made Brad Crelia a terrific human being. For the hundreds, if not thousands of people that Brad’s life touched, his loss at such a young age, is painfully sad and hurtful. We’re all going to miss Mr. Crelia for a very long time to come.

A toast to Brad Crelia.