David Mixner, whom Newsweek once named the most powerful gay man in America, has been a highly regarded leader in American politics and international human rights for over 40 years and is a best-selling author of Stranger Among Friends, At Home with Myself, and Brave Journeys (co-written with Dennis Bailey). A sought after keynote speaker around the globe, Mixner has lectured at Oxford, Harvard, Stanford, Princeton, and the London School of Economics. In his riveting talks, Mixner shares an insider’s look at the triumphs and failures of American politics and offers candid insights on a wide range of topics from human rights activism, to the evolution of gay rights, to the crusade to prevent and fight HIV/AIDS. A gifted raconteur, he shares his wisdom and stories with, as Tony Award-winner Alan Cumming says, “a mesmerizing blend of wit, dignity and homespun charm makes you feel you are curled up on the porch next to him.”
Mixner has been an unofficial advisor to elected officials and business leaders on domestic and foreign policy for decades. Today, as a prominent international public affairs/strategic-planning consultant with expertise in HIV/AIDS, he is working on access, prevention and treatment projects in Russia, Ukraine and a number of African nations. In addition, he continues his work fighting HIV/AIDS here in the United States.
Mixner has raised over $60 million for candidates and charity organizations, including well over $1 million for openly gay and lesbian candidates across the country, and has participated in over 75 election campaigns, serving as campaign manager, fundraiser, or strategist. Campaigns include Gephardt for President, Clinton for President, Hart for President, McGovern for President, Bradley for Mayor, and Brown for Governor and Senate.
Mixner’s screenplay with Richard Burns, Dunes of Overveen, won the Outfest MTV Award for Best New Screenplay. In addition, Mixner and Dennis Bailey co-wrote the screenplay Fire in the Soul, which is in pre-production, and a play, the historical drama Jacob’s Ladder premiered in Austin, Texas and won numerous critic awards. He was an executive producer of the award-winning documentary House on Fire, which highlighted the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the African-American community. Mixner had a blog that reached hundreds of thousands called “Live From Turkey Hollow” and written for numerous publications.
After turning 65, Mixner staged five completely sold out one man shows off- Broadway to rave reviews: From the Front Porch, Oh Hell No, 1969, Who Fell Into the Outhouse and You Make Me Sick! The shows traveled to Milan, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Atlanta.
Recently, Yale University’s Larry Kramer Initiative for Lesbian and Gay Studies created the David B. Mixner Collection, a catalogue of Mixner’s papers and correspondence from his work as a leading antiwar advocate during the Vietnam War to his participation in present day political campaigns.
David Mixner lives in New York City.