Alphonso David

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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
Born1971 (age 49–50)
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] and former president of the Human Rights Campaign.[2] 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,[3][4][5] 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.[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

Education[]

David graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park[9] 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.[10]

Career and controversies[]

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.[11]

Civil rights litigation[]

David served as a staff attorney at the Lambda Legal Defense and Educational Fund from 2004–2007.[12] He worked on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender-centered cases around the country involving issues like HIV, employment and housing accommodations.[7] David worked on New York's first marriage equality case, Hernandez v. Robles. They won at the trial court but lost on appeal.[13] 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[14][15]

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.[16]

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.[16]

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.[17][18]

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.[19] The letter was never released.[20][21]

In August 2021, he received public backlash after it was revealed that he played a role in the smear campaign[22] against women accusing New York Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment and assault. In a report released by New York Attorney General Letitia James, it was revealed that David assisted in the drafting of a disparaging op-ed that ultimately was not published as well as aiding in the release of private personnel files of the accusers.[23]

President of the Human Rights Campaign[]

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

After 12 years with the New York state government, David became president of the Human Rights Campaign. He was removed from this position in 2021.[24]

Personal life[]

David has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Law.[12] He is openly gay.[25][12] He cites James Baldwin as his LGBT+ hero for "daring to dream big and beyond the limitations others placed on him."[13]

Awards and honors[]

In May 2017, David received the Public Servant of the Year Award from the Metropolitan Black Bar Association for his advocacy.[26][27] 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.[28] 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".[29][30]

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. ^ "Meet Alphonso David, Incoming President of the Human Rights Campaign". You Tube. Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  4. ^ "Human Rights Campaign Picks Alphonso David as New President". Time. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  5. ^ "HRC Names First Civil Rights Lawyer, First POC President". www.advocate.com. June 25, 2019. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  6. ^ Haberman, Maggie (September 6, 2021). "Alphonso David, Who Advised Cuomo, Fired as Human Rights Campaign President". The New York Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Politics is in Alphonso David's blood whether he likes it or not". amsterdamnews.com. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  8. ^ "The third-most-powerful person in Cuomo's office". Crain's New York Business. May 24, 2015. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
  9. ^ Crary, David. "University of Maryland alumnus Alphonso David to head Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBTQ-rights group". baltimoresun.com.
  10. ^ "Alphonso David". Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  11. ^ robert.harding@lee.net, Robert Harding. "Alphonso David, counsel to Cuomo, leaving to lead Human Rights Campaign". Auburn Citizen.
  12. ^ a b c "Alphonso David". HRC.
  13. ^ a b "Alphonso David | Out Leadership". July 16, 2018.
  14. ^ "Immigration Consultants Under Investigation for Cheating Haitians | WNYC | New York Public Radio, Podcasts, Live Streaming Radio, News". WNYC. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  15. ^ "Petitioners against Arbitron Inc" (PDF). Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Alphonso David". cardozo.yu.edu. Retrieved March 19, 2020.
  17. ^ "What Happened Next in New York". www.advocate.com. October 17, 2011. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Alphonso David | Out Leadership". July 16, 2018. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  19. ^ Yurcaba, Jo (August 9, 2021). "Prominent LGBTQ leaders face increased scrutiny after Cuomo report". NBC News. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  20. ^ "How Cuomo's office sought help from prominent liberal advocates as it pushed to discredit an accuser". Washington Post. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  21. ^ Dreisbach, Tom (August 6, 2021). "Cuomo Scandal Entangles Leader Of Influential LGBTQ Advocacy Group". NPR. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  22. ^ Prater, Nia (August 9, 2021). "Time's Up Boss Resigns After Being Caught in Cuomo Effort to Smear Accuser". Intelligencer. Retrieved August 18, 2021.
  23. ^ Evers-Hillstrom, Karl (August 4, 2021). "Human Rights Campaign president allegedly helped leak personnel file of Cuomo accuser". The Hill. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  24. ^ Chappell, Bill (September 7, 2021). "Human Rights Campaign Fires President Alphonso David Over Report That He Helped Cuomo". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "Alphonso B. David | Metropolitan Black Bar Association". Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  27. ^ "Metropolitan Black Bar Association honors Judge Kuntz during awards gala". Brooklyn Eagle. May 25, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  28. ^ https://ils.ny.gov/files/ILS%20Board/Alphonso%20David%20%20Public%20Appreciation%20092019.pdf[dead link]
  29. ^ "Queerty Pride50 2020 Honorees". Queerty. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
  30. ^ Editors (July 2, 2020). "9 queer political figures creating a more perfect union this election year". Queerty. Retrieved July 28, 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
Human Rights Campaign
Preceded by President of the Human Rights Campaign
2019–2021 		Succeeded by
Joni Madison
Acting
Retrieved from ""