Finding aid of the Tomas Fabregas Papers

Amy Gilgan

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

657 Mission Street, Suite 300

San Francisco, California 94105

Phone: (415) 777-5455

Fax: (415) 777-5576

Email: info@glbthistory.org

URL: http://www.glbthistory.org/

Finding aid of the Tomas Fabregas Papers

Collection number: 1996-44

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

San Francisco, California

Processed by:: Amy Gilgan
Date Completed:: April 2005
Encoded by:: Josué Hurtado and Rebekah Kim

Descriptive Summary

Title: Tomas Fabregas Papers

Dates: 1990-1994

Collection number: 1996-44

Creator: Fabregas, Tomas

Collection Size: 6 manuscript boxes 3.0 linear feet

Repository: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society

San Francisco, California 94105

Abstract: Memos, press releases, articles, correspondence, conference information and reports document Tomas Fabregas' AIDS activism on behalf of the ACT UP Immigrant working group and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. The collection highlights Fabregas' work against immigration and travel restrictions on HIV positive people worldwide.

Physical location: Stored at the Archives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco, California.

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Access

Collection open for research.

Publication Rights

Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

Preferred Citation

Tomas Fabregas Papers, 1996-44, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

Acquisition Information

Donated by Jeffrey L. Brooks, 1996.

Biography

Tomas Fabregas, a Spanish citizen, traveled to the United States in 1979. Fascinated by New York, he became a legal permanent resident. Fabregas worked for the United Nations in New York prior to moving to California in order to pursue graduate work at UC Berkeley. When he was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1989, Fabregas put his career on hold to become an AIDS activist. He began his involvement with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1989 by volunteering for the Foundation's Public Policy Department.

He continued his work with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1990, helping to create a multilingual newsletter for HIV positive people on behalf of the Foundation's Education Department as well as being elected to the San Francisco AIDS Foundation's board of Directors and the Healing Alternatives Foundation's Board of Directors. Additionally, Fabregas became a member of ACT UP Golden Gate and ACT UP San Francisco in 1990. Fabregas worked with ACT UP on the Treatment Issues Committee as well as the Joint Immigration Working Group of ACT UP San Francisco and ACT UP Golden Gate.

In his capacities at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the ACT UP Immigration Working Group, Fabregas campaigned to have immigration and travel restrictions on HIV positive people lifted worldwide. In the United States, Fabregas campaigned against the Nickles amendment, a piece of U.S. legislation which retained the exclusion of HIV positive immigrants and travelers. Fabregas also campaigned both the Bush senior and Clinton administrations to release the HIV positive Haitian refugees quarantined at Guantanamo Bay.

Fabregas traveled to AIDS conferences worldwide, often as a keynote speaker. He was instrumental in urging the 8th International AIDS Conference to move the conference location from Boston due to U.S. immigration and travel restrictions on HIV positive people. The 8th International AIDS conference was held in Amsterdam in 1992, featuring Fabregas as a speaker at the opening ceremony. Jeffrey Brooks, Fabregas' partner, often traveled overseas with him.

Fabregas resigned from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1993. He died of AIDS related complications in 1994 at age 36.

Scope and Content of Collection

Memos, press releases, articles, correspondence, conference information, and reports, 1990-1994 (3.6 linear feet) chronicle the AIDS activism of Tomas Fabregas. The collection focuses on his capacities with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Joint Immigration Working Group of ACT UP San Francisco and ACT UP Golden Gate as well as his outreach to related organizations. Fabregas campaigned against immigration and travel restrictions on HIV positive people. The collection contains articles and speeches written by Fabregas in addition to particular campaigns that he worked on.

The collection is divided into 9 series:

Series 1. ACT UP
Series 2. SAN FRANCISCO AIDS FOUNDATION
Series 3. RELATED ORGANIZATIONS
Series 4. HIV RESTRICTIONS ON IMMIGRATION
Series 5. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AIDS
Series 6. GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
Series 7. WORK AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Series 8. MISCELLANEOUS ACTIVITIES
Series 9. ARTIFACTS

Each folder is listed within the appropriate series in the container list Folders containing memos or correspondence are arranged chronologically in ascending order.

Series 1. ACT UP, 1991-1994

This series includes articles, flyers, memos and correspondence for the ACT UP Immigrant Working Group of ACT UP San Francisco and ACT UP Golden Gate. Also included is information from other ACT UP chapters.

Series 2. San Francisco AIDS Foundation, 1991-1993

This series includes memos, press releases, articles, and correspondence from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Fabregas began his work with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation in 1991 and resigned from the Foundation in 1993.

Series 3. Related Organizations, 1991-1994

This series includes AIDS related information from organizations Fabregas was in contact with. In his capacities at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation as well as the ACT UP Immigrant Working Group, Fabregas worked extensively with the Coalition for Immigrant Services (CIRRS) and the Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights. Fabregas also worked with the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR), an AIDS activist organization founded by Elizabeth Taylor. Photos of Taylor and Fabregas together at press conferences are included in the AMFAR folder.

Series 4. HIV Restrictions on Immigration, 1993

This series includes memos, notes, correspondence, legal documents, flyers and press releases dealing the Nickles amendment, a National Institute of Health (NIH) bill, detainment of HIV positive Haitian refugees at Gauntanamo Bay. The Nickles amendment and the NIH bill were attempts to legislate the exclusion of HIV immigrants, rather than leaving immigrant restrictions under the advisement of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. The HIV restrictions on immigration were called into question when the United States detained over 200 HIV positive Haitian refugees at Gauntanamo Bay in 1991.

Series 5. International Conference on AIDS, 1991-1993

This series includes information on the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th International Conference on AIDS. There is extensive documentation on the 8th conference, which Fabregas campaigned to have moved from Boston due to U.S. immigration restrictions. Once the conference was moved to Amsterdam, Fabregas campaigned to have the issue of HIV immigration and travel restrictions addressed at the opening ceremony. After petitioning the conference committee, Fabregas was eventually invited to speak about immigration and travel restrictions at the opening ceremony of the 8th International Conference on AIDS. At the conference, Fabregas publicly challenged the Bush administration to enforce the HIV restrictions on his re-entry into the United States. Fabregas re-entered the U.S. without any issues. The mayor of San Francisco proclaimed Fabregas' return to the U.S. as Tomas Fabregas Day

Series 6. General Correspondence, 1991-1994

This folder contains the personal correspondence of Tomas Fabregas. It also contains Fabregas' Correspondence with his lawyer, Morris Ratner.

Series 7. Work and Accomplishments, 1991-1994

This series includes notes, research, awards, articles, speeches, and reports written for or about Fabregas.

Series 8. Miscellaneous Activities, 1991-1994

This series includes miscellaneous activities and conferences attended by Fabregas.

Series 9. Artifacts, 1991-1994

This series includes AIDS activist business cards from around the world and the Immigration Working Group rubber stamp.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

San Francisco (Calif.)

AIDS

Immigration

People With AIDS

International AIDS Conference

Related Material

ACT UP/Golden Gate, 1991, periodicals collection

ACT UP/San Francisco, 1989-1990, periodicals collection

San Francisco AIDs Foundation, 1989, periodicals collection

Collection Contents

Series 1. ACT UP 1991-1994

Physical Description: 8 folders

Series Description

Box : Folder 1 : 1 - 7

Immigrant Working Group nodate

Box : Folder 1 : 1

Articles 1991-1993

Box : Folder 1 : 2

Flyers 1991-1993

Box : Folder 1 : 3

Memos 1991-1993

Box : Folder 1 : 4

Correspondence March 1991-1992

Box : Folder 1 : 5

Correspondence April 1992-June 1992

Box : Folder 1 : 6

Correspondence July 1992-April 1994

Box : Folder 1 : 7

Papandreou Correspondence 1992

Box : Folder 1 : 8

Other ACT UP Chapters 1991-1993

Series 2. San Francisco AIDS Foundation 1991-1993

Physical Description: 5 folders

Series Description

Box : Folder 1 : 9

Memos 1990-1992

Box : Folder 1 : 10

Memos 1993-1994

Box : Folder 1 : 11

Press Releases and Articles 1991-1993

Box : Folder 2 : 1

Correspondence 1991-1992

Box : Folder 2 : 2

Correspondence 1993

Series 3. Related Organizations 1991-1994

Physical Description: 15 folders

Series Description

This series includes AIDS related information from organizations Fabregas was in contact with. In his capacities at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation as well as the ACT UP Immigrant Working Group, Fabregas worked extensively with the Coalition for Immigrant Services (CIRRS) and the Lawyer‚s Committee for Civil Rights. Fabregas also worked with the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR), an AIDS activist organization founded by Elizabeth Taylor. Photos of Taylor and Fabregas together at press conferences are included in the AMFAR folder.

Box : Folder 2 : 3

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) 1993

Box : Folder 2 : 4

Ad Hoc Task Force on Immigration and AIDS 1992-1994

Box : Folder 2 : 5

American Foundation for AIDS Research (AMFAR) 1992-1993

Box : Folder 2 : 6

Bay Area HIV Advocacy Network 1993

Box : Folder 2 : 7 - 2 : 9

Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights and Services (CIRRS) 1992-1994

Box : Folder 2 : 10

Gay Men‚s Health Crisis (GMHC) 1993

Box : Folder 2 : 11

Human Rights Campaign Fund 1993-1994

Box : Folder 2 : 12

LAMDA Legal Defense and Education Fund 1992

Box : Folder 2 : 13 - 3 : 1

Lawyer's Committee for Civil Rights 1991-1993

Box : Folder 3 : 2

U.S. Committee for Refugees 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 3 - 3 : 4

Miscellaneous Organizations 1991-1994

Series 4. HIV Restrictions on Immigration 1993

Physical Description: 8 folders

Series Description

Box : Folder 3 : 5 - 3 : 7

Memos January 1993 - March 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 7

March 1993-July 1993 March 1993-July 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 8

Notes 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 9

Correspondence 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 10

Legal Documents 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 11

Articles 1993

Box : Folder 3 : 12

Flyers and Press Releases 1993

Series 5. International Conference on AIDS 1991-1993

Physical Description: 17 folders, 1 box

Series Description

Box : Folder 4 : 1 - 4 : 3

7th International Conference on AIDS nodate

Box : Folder 4 : 1

General Information 1991

Box : Folder 4 : 2

Beauval‚s Passport 1991

Box : Folder 4 : 3

GMHC Media Advisory 1991

Box : Folder 4 : 4 - 4 : 15

8th International Conference on AIDS nodate

Box : Folder 4 : 4

General Conference Information 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 5

General Conference Information 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 6

Articles 1991-1992

Box : Folder 4 : 7

Press Releases 1991-1992

Box : Folder 4 : 8

Notes 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 9

Anne Frank Press Conference 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 10

Petition Background 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 11

Petitions 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 12

Petitions 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 13

Statements 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 14

Correspondence November 1991-April 1992

Box : Folder 4 : 15

Correspondence May 1992-July 1992

Box : Folder 5 : 1

9th International AIDS Conference 1993

Box : Folder 5 : 2

10th International AIDS Conference 1993

Series 6. General Correspondence 1991-1994

Physical Description: 5 folders

Series Description

This folder contains the personal correspondence of Tomas Fabregas. It also contains Fabregas‚ correspondence with his lawyer, Morris Ratner.

Box : Folder 5 : 3

June 1991-March 1992

Box : Folder 5 : 4

April 1992-December 1992

Box : Folder 5 : 5

February 1993-August 1993

Box : Folder 5 : 6

September 1993-February 1994

Box : Folder 5 : 7

Morris Ratner 1992

Series 7. Work and Accomplishments 1991-1994

Physical Description: 6 folders

Series Description

This series includes notes, research, awards, articles, speeches, and reports written for or about Fabregas.

Box : Folder 5 : 8 - 5 : 9

Notes and Research 1991-1994

Box : Folder 5 : 10

Awards 1992-1994

Box : Folder 5 : 11 - 5 : 12

Articles and Speeches 1992-1993

Box : Folder 6 : 1 - 6 : 2

EEC Trade Sanctions 1991-1992

Series 8. Miscellaneous Activities 1991-1994

Physical Description: 5 folders

Series Description

This series includes miscellaneous activities and conferences attended by Fabregas.

Box : Folder 6 : 3

1991-1994

Box : Folder 6 : 4

1991-1994

Box : Folder 6 : 5

Global Survey 1991

Box : Folder 6 : 6

Miscellaneous Conferences 1992-1993

Box : Folder 6 : 7

GNP Conference 1993

Series 9. Artifacts 1991-1994

Physical Description: 1 folder, 1 stamp

Series Description

This series includes AIDS activist business cards from around the world and the Immigration Working Group rubber stamp.

Box : Folder 6 : 8

Business Cards 1990-1994

Box : Folder 6

Immigration Working Group Stamp

Note

In back of box 6

| | | | | | | |