James Credle of Newark has led a life of activism and advocacy. He is a leader within the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning communities since 1980. As early as 1969 as a Rutgers-Newark student, he stood in solidarity with the Conklin Hall black student movement. He and his Scarlet Raiders teammates refused to play the scheduled games until campus administration met student demands for institutional change. James was drafted and served in the Vietnam War for three years as a medic. He was awarded the Bronze Star, the Vietnam Cross for Gallantry and a Purple Heart. He then worked to obtain justice for Vietnam vets who had been exposed to Agent Orange. In 1987, 25 percent of men living with HIV/AIDS were gay. James assisted in creating the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention, the first national HIV prevention program directed at black men and men of color. Continuing to work and serve where he lives, James cofounded the Newark Pride Alliance in 2003 in the aftermath of the murder of Sakia Gunn, a 14-year-old lesbian who spoke back to a street harasser. As an Alliance Board member, he leads the organization’s mission to offer safe space to LGBTQQ youth. He’s also embarked on an anti-bullying campaign, Stop Hate, Report Bullying that focuses on community groups.

Update: James Credle died April 15, 2023.