[todaysdate]
By Blaine Stum
On Thursday morning last week, I received a message I was not and could not be prepared for: a dear friend with whom I had shared many good memories with passed away in the middle of the night. He was 29 years old. As with any death, grief clings and questions linger. A mixture of sadness and anger stews in the depths of my heart for losing someone I love. “How could he have been taken from us at such a young age?” I keep asking myself. It would be easy to allow the despair to envelop me, but I know that is not what he would want.
When I first met Brad Crelia, I could tell he was unique. He was part nerd, part hipster and part politico. He and I would strike up lofty conversations on the nature of politics in the U.S, what it is like to be a gay man living in Spokane, and dealing with disease. He was genuine, and never shy to discuss his diagnosis with HIV, living with porphyria or grappling with the death of a beloved partner. Despite all he had faced in his life however, he never lost hope for the future or stopped fighting for a more just world. He dedicated himself to fighting for LGBT youth and fighting against the stigma that society still attaches to HIV. He was chomping at the bit to run for political office.
A 2011 interview he did with Dan Savage perfectly sums up the outlook he had. When Dan asked him, “If you could hammer one idea or concept into the heads of all gay men everywhere, what would it be?” Brad replied: “Easy: keep on living life. Art, music, pop culture, literature are for HIV positive and negative people alike.” Keep on living life. This is what he would want. May we heed his advice and continue the work he dedicated himself to.
Thanks for writing this Blaine. I’m sorry for your loss. I remember you introducing me to Brad once. He seemed like a remarkable guy!
Ah Blaine. I am sorry for us too. And I share in the feeling of pain at loss. It hurts, it just does. Hang in, friend, hang in there.