Remembering Cornelius Baker

It is with deep sadness that FCAA joins the global community in mourning and honoring the remarkable legacy of civil rights leader, public health strategist, and dedicated public servant Antonio Cornelius Baker.

At the time of his passing, Cornelius served as the Special Advisor to the Office of AIDS Research and the PEPFAR Liaison at the National Institutes of Health. He was also the Board Chair for Us Helping Us, People Living with HIV, Inc.

As a former member of the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), Cornelius was a trailblazer in advocating for HIV research. He played a pivotal role in the reauthorization of the Ryan White Act, as well as the implementation and reauthorization of PEPFAR. In his position as Project Director at FHI360, he led a significant global HIV awareness campaign for Black gay men titled “Testing Makes Us Stronger.”

Cornelius was a powerful advocate for the rights and well-being of Black gay men worldwide, mentoring countless individuals, including FCAA’s Senior Program Manager, Marvell Terry II. Terry reflects, “I met Cornelius through the Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative in 2012, organized by the National Black Gay Advocacy Coalition (NBGMAC). Cornelius forged a path for young Black gay men from the U.S. South to the global South, equipping us with the knowledge and resilience necessary to combat political adversity and advocate for ourselves with unwavering strength.”

Terry emphasizes that Cornelius paved the way for young Black gay men to fight against political harm and to advocate for more comprehensive HIV treatment and prevention from an intersectional perspective.

For further reflections on Cornelius Baker’s life and legacy, please see the obituary and celebratory commentary here.