Editing Michael Callen (section)

{{short description|American writer, musician and AIDS activist (1955–1993)}}
{{distinguish|Michael Callan}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox person
|name        = Michael Callen
|image       = Michael Callen.jpg
|caption     =
|birth_date  = {{birth date|1955|4|11}}
|birth_place = [[Rising Sun, Indiana]], <br />United States
|death_date  = {{death date and age|1993|12|27|1955|4|11}}
|death_place = Los Angeles, California, <br />United States
|death_cause = [[AIDS]]-related complications
|other_names =
|known_for   = Early AIDS activist
|occupation  = Musician, author, and AIDS activist
}}

'''Michael Callen''' (April 11, 1955 – December 27, 1993) was an American singer, songwriter, composer, author, and [[AIDS activism|AIDS activist]]. Callen was diagnosed with AIDS in 1982 and became a pioneer of AIDS activism in New York City, working closely with his doctor, Dr. [[Joseph Sonnabend]], and [[Richard Berkowitz]]. Together, they published articles and pamphlets to raise awareness about the correlation between risky sexual behaviors and AIDS.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Watney |first=Simon |title=Imagine Hope: AIDS and Gay Identity |publisher=Taylor and Francis Group |year=2000 |isbn=9780203495445 |location=London |pages=114–115 |language=English}}</ref>

As a major contributor to the foundation of AIDS activism, specifically activism from [[People With AIDS]], Callen helped draft unprecedented documents such as ''[[How to Have Sex in an Epidemic: One Approach]],'' and [[The Denver Principles]]. In addition to his written work, Callen was a leader and founder of activist organizations including The People with AIDS Coalition and the Community Research Initiative. As a musician, he was a member of the openly gay and politically active [[a cappella]] quintet [[The Flirtations (group)|The Flirtations]] and released two solo albums: ''Purple Heart'' in 1988 and ''Legacy'' in 1996. He consistently spoke out for AIDS activists and gay and lesbian organizations and made frequent speaking and performance appearances. Callen remained a primary public figure in AIDS activism until he died at age 38 from AIDS-related complications of pulmonary [[Kaposi's sarcoma]] at [[Midway Hospital Medical Center]] in Los Angeles, California.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/29/obituaries/michael-callen-singer-and-expert-on-coping-with-aids-dies-at-38.html?mtrref=www.nytimes.com|title=Michael Callen, Singer and Expert on Coping With AIDS, Dies at 38|last=Dunlap|first=David W.|date=December 29, 1993|work=The New York Times|access-date=October 23, 2018}}</ref> In ''Love Doesn't Need a Reason'' the author, Jones, wrote that Michael Callen requested that [[Douglas Sadownick]] and Tim{{who|date=April 2025}} should be granted power of attorney over him.<ref>{{cite book |author=Jones |date=2020 |title=Love Don't Need a Reason - The Life & Music of Michael Callen |url= |publisher=Punctum Books |page=261 |isbn=9781953035158}}</ref>