Alphonso David

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Alphonso David
2019.10.23 Conversations with Human Rights Campaign President Alphonso David, Washington, DC USA 296 28019 (cropped).jpg
David in 2019
President of the Human Rights Campaign
In office
August 2019 – September 6, 2021
Preceded byChad Griffin
Succeeded byJoni Madison (acting)
Personal details
Born1970 (age 52–53)
Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
RelativesWilliam Tolbert (great-uncle)
EducationUniversity of Maryland, College Park (BA)
Temple University (JD)

Alphonso David (born 1970) is an American lawyer, LGBT civil rights activist,[1] former president of the Human Rights Campaign,[2] and current president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum.[3][4] In August 2019, he became the president of the Human Rights Campaign. He was the first civil rights lawyer and first person of color to serve as president of the organization,[5][6][7] but was fired from his role as president on September 6, 2021 after it was revealed that he advised former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo when he was accused of sexually assaulting women.[8] He made national headlines in 2022 for bringing litigation against the Human Rights Campaign alleging racial bias in his firing.[9][10][11] On June 30, 2022, David was announced as the president and CEO of the Global Black Economic Forum, an organization working "to serve and advocate on behalf of the economic needs of the Black community."[12]

Early life

David, who is of African American heritage, was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. His family moved to Monrovia, Liberia, when he was one year old. In 1977, David's father was elected mayor of his city while his great uncle William Tolbert was President of Liberia.[13] In 1980 during a military coup, David's uncle was assassinated and his father was incarcerated. His family lived under house arrest for 18 months and sought political asylum in the United States when he was 10 years old.[14]

Education

David graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park[15] in 1992 and Temple University Law School in 2000. While at Temple, David was a member of the university's national trial team and the Political and Civil Rights Law Review.[16]

Career

Early career

After graduation David worked as a judicial law clerk for the Clifford Scott Green, a Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania known for issuing a decision finding racial discrimination in the Philadelphia Police Department.

Next, David joined Blank Rome LLP, a national law firm based in Philadelphia, to work as a litigation associate. He also got heavily involved in pro bono work, such as helping victims of domestic violence.[17]

Civil rights litigation

David served as a staff attorney at the Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 2004–2007.[18] He worked on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-centered cases around the country involving issues like HIV, employment and housing accommodations.[13] David worked on New York's first marriage equality case, Hernandez v. Robles. They won at the trial court but lost on appeal.[19] After three years with Lambda Legal, he joined Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's Office as Bureau Chief for Civil Rights where he managed and prosecuted cases statewide ranging from deceptive business practices to immigration fraud[20][21]

Counsel to New York Governor Cuomo

David served for four years in the Governor's cabinet as the Deputy Secretary and Counsel for Civil Rights, the first position of its kind in New York State. In this capacity, he was responsible for a full range of legal, policy, legislative and operational matters affecting civil rights and labor throughout the State.[22]

In 2015, David was appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo to serve as Counsel to the Governor. In this role, he functioned as the Governor's chief counsel and principal legal advisor, and oversaw all significant legal and policy deliberations affecting New York State, including evaluating proposed legislation; implementing laws and policies and formulating the State's posture in both affirmative and defensive litigation.[22]

During this tenure in the Governor's Office, David worked on landmark legislation and policy including the Marriage Equality Act, which removed legal barriers permitting same-sex couples to marry, the Workers Compensation Reform Act, which modernized key components of the program to ensure greater accountability and functionality,  the Paid Family Leave Act, which ensures individuals leave to care for a sick family member, and the Minority and Women Business Program, which expanded contracting opportunities for MWBEs throughout the state.[23][24]

In New York Attorney General Letitia James's independent investigation of allegations of sexual harassment by Cuomo, released in August 2021, David's role in providing the personnel files of former Cuomo advisor Lindsey Boylan to the governor's office, which were then leaked to the press in an attempt to discredit her, is discussed. The report also states that David helped to draft a letter in defense of Cuomo and which questioned Boylan's motivations.[25] The letter was not published.[26][27]

President of the Human Rights Campaign

A blue background with yellow equality sign, the HRC logo
Human Rights Campaign logo

In August 2019, after 12 years with the New York state government, David became president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). A report released in August 2021 following an independent investigation led by New York Attorney General Letitia "Tish" James described David's efforts to cover up sexual harassment claims against Governor Andrew Cuomo and undermine the credibility of accusers.[28] On September 6, 2021, David was fired as president of HRC.[29] In February 2022, David filed a lawsuit against the HRC, alleging discrimination.[30]

Personal life

David has worked as an adjunct professor of law.[18] He is openly gay.[31][18]

Awards and honors

In May 2017, David received the Public Servant of the Year Award from the Metropolitan Black Bar Association for his advocacy.[32][33] In February 2018, the Asian American Bar Association bestowed its public service award on David. In September 2019, David received a public appreciation recognition from the Chief Judge of New York State, on behalf of the Indigent Legal Services Board, for his "extraordinary contributions to improving the quality of mandated representation in New York State.[34] In June 2020, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the first LGBTQ Pride parade, Queerty named him among the fifty heroes "leading the nation toward equality, acceptance, and dignity for all people".[35][36]

References

  1. ^ State, City & (June 30, 2019). "The 2019 Pride Power 100". City & State NY. Retrieved September 16, 2021.
  2. ^ "Human Rights Campaign taps Alphonso David as next president". Washington Blade: Gay News, Politics, LGBT Rights. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  3. ^ "Leadership". www.gbef.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  4. ^ "Alphonso David, Reflects On The Brittney Griner Trial". Essence. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Meet Alphonso David, Incoming President of the Human Rights Campaign". You Tube. Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  6. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Picks Alphonso David as New President". Time. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  7. ^ "HRC Names First Civil Rights Lawyer, First POC President". www.advocate.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  8. ^ Haberman, Maggie (September 6, 2021). "Alphonso David, Who Advised Cuomo, Fired as Human Rights Campaign President". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Franklin, Jonathan (February 3, 2022). "First Black leader of Human Rights Campaign sues, says he was fired because of race". NPR. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Human Rights Campaign's first Black leader sues over firing, alleging racial bias". NBC News. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  11. ^ Reuters (February 7, 2022). "Ex-head of U.S. Human Rights Campaign sues group, alleging racial discrimination". Reuters. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "THE GLOBAL BLACK ECONOMIC FORUM APPOINTS ALPHONSO DAVID AS PRESIDENT & CEO". finance.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "Politics is in Alphonso David's blood whether he likes it or not". amsterdamnews.com. January 31, 2014. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  14. ^ "The third-most-powerful person in Cuomo's office". Crain's New York Business. May 24, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  15. ^ Crary, David. "University of Maryland alumnus Alphonso David to head Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBTQ-rights group". baltimoresun.com.
  16. ^ "Alphonso David". Retrieved October 1, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ robert.harding@lee.net, Robert Harding. "Alphonso David, counsel to Cuomo, leaving to lead Human Rights Campaign". Auburn Citizen.
  18. ^ a b c "Alphonso David". HRC.
  19. ^ "Alphonso David | Out Leadership". July 16, 2018.
  20. ^ "Immigration Consultants Under Investigation for Cheating Haitians | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  21. ^ "Petitioners against Arbitron Inc" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on November 22, 2014. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Alphonso David". cardozo.yu.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  23. ^ "What Happened Next in New York". www.advocate.com. October 17, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  24. ^ "Alphonso David | Out Leadership". July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  25. ^ Yurcaba, Jo (August 9, 2021). "Prominent LGBTQ leaders face increased scrutiny after Cuomo report". NBC News. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  26. ^ "How Cuomo's office sought help from prominent liberal advocates as it pushed to discredit an accuser". Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  27. ^ Dreisbach, Tom (August 6, 2021). "Cuomo Scandal Entangles Leader Of Influential LGBTQ Advocacy Group". NPR. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  28. ^ "How Cuomo's office sought help from prominent liberal advocates as it pushed to discredit an accuser". Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  29. ^ Haberman, Maggie (September 6, 2021). "Alphonso David, Who Advised Cuomo, Fired as Human Rights Campaign President". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  30. ^ Michael Scherer (February 3, 2022). "Human Rights Campaign hit with racial bias suit by former president fired in Andrew M. Cuomo scandal". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.
  31. ^ Brown, Jennifer (August 4, 2017). "Alphonso David: From Immigrant to The Third Most Powerful Man in New York State". Jennifer Brown Speaks. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  32. ^ "Alphonso B. David | Metropolitan Black Bar Association". Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  33. ^ "Metropolitan Black Bar Association honors Judge Kuntz during awards gala". Brooklyn Eagle. May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  34. ^ https://ils.ny.gov/files/ILS%20Board/Alphonso%20David%20%20Public%20Appreciation%20092019.pdf Archived November 14, 2019, at the Wayback Machine
  35. ^ "Queerty Pride50 2020 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  36. ^ "9 queer political figures creating a more perfect union this election year". Queerty. July 2, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
Human Rights Campaign
Preceded by President of the Human Rights Campaign
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Joni Madison
Acting
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