Christopher Collins, an activist for HIV/AIDS and the LGBT community, died Jan. 3 at 37. Through his life, Collins was involved with The Colours Organization, Mazzoni Center, The Attic Youth Center and other organizations dedicated to improving the lives of LGBT people.
Friends of Collins took to social media to express their thoughts on his death and shared favorite memories, as well as created a GoFundMe page to raise money for funeral costs. Donors surpassed the $9,000 goal in less than 24 hours. As of presstime, the page has raised more than $11,000.
Jose DeMarco, an ACT UP Philadelphia member, said he did not know Collins personally but watched him from a distance “grow up from a young man to an active member and leader in the queer community.”
“He was always a friendly wonderful guy that would light up a room,” DeMarco said in an email. “I am devastated that he died. You never think about young people in our community passing and when it does happen, it has a profound impact on all of us in the community.”
Alison Gerig, the former health-center director at Mazzoni Center, hired Collins as an HIV-prevention counselor. In that position, Collins advised others on safe-sex practices. Gerig said he had an ability to work with the community “across race, class and gender identity.” She referred to Collins’ personality as “open-hearted.”
“He brought a tremendous amount of hope, light and positivity to his work,” Gerig said. “He really believed in helping queer people of color and he really reached communities that were hard to reach at times. I would even say he saved a lot of people’s lives through the work he did.”
Chris Bartlett, executive director of William Way LGBT Community Center, was a participant with Collins in the Gay Men’s Health Leadership Academy.
“He had a smile that could light up the universe and he had a warmth that was naturally engaging with anyone he met,” Bartlett said. “He had equal consideration for a struggling community member or an executive director. He cared about the breadth of our community. He extended his warmth and care and love to everyone that he met.”
Louie A. Ortiz-Fonseca, a friend of Collins, referred to his laugh as “infectious.”
“He always went out of his way to make people feel welcome and feel like they belonged,” Ortiz-Fonseca said. “He was just a beautiful spirit.”
Ortiz-Fonseca recalled a time when his family didn’t show up to his graduation ceremony when he received his GED. However, Collins attended and helped organize a surprise party for Ortiz-Fonseca.
“When we needed each other, we were there,” Ortiz-Fonseca said.
Ortiz-Fonseca noted Collins did not do any work for recognition. Collins’ longtime friend Francesca “Fatima” Williams echoed that statement.
She referred to Collins as her second father, since her biological father was frequently absent from her life. She remembered specific moments Collins was by her side, such as when she had her first child and when her biological father committed suicide.
Additionally, she recalled an instance when her former boyfriend abused her.
“Christopher was there within minutes of me calling him,” Williams said. “He showed up in the car. Christopher didn’t even have a driver’s license. He took his friend’s car, who he was with, and they came and got me. He made sure I was OK.”
Williams said Collins “lived for his mom” and made sure she was taken care of. She also knew him as someone who would open up his home if a friend became homeless.
“This is why people loved him,” Williams said. “It wasn’t just about a dollar or the acknowledgement. This is what he wanted for people. He wanted to see the betterment for people in our community. He was a soldier in this fight.”
Collins is predeceased by his father, David Collins, and is survived by his mother, Veronica Collins; his sister, Dawn Collins; his niece, Taylor Love Foman; his nephew, Henry Martin III; his uncle, John Gallagher; and his aunts, Susan and Jane Gallagher.
A viewing will be held at 9 a.m. and a service at 10 a.m. Jan. 10 at St. Francis DeSales Roman Catholic Church, 4625 Springfield Ave. Interment will be at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. A community memorial service, organized by GALAEI and Colours with support from other community organizations, will follow at 3 p.m. at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce St.