Joe lived a life - several lifetimes by any reasonable count -- dedicated to the people (and dogs) he loved and to an unwavering belief that every person deserved to be loved and treated with dignity. He did so with an infectious laugh, sense of decency, and appreciation for a good thread count.
A son of South Carolina, Joe became a trailblazer for LGBTQ equality before and during the AIDS crisis. He later devoted 20 years to supporting human rights and democracy across the Middle East and Africa as a leader of the National Democratic Institute. He spent two decades based in Lebanon, where he fell in love with the country and his future husband Andre, who was with him through his final hours.
Joe later served as a Vice President of the Halifax International Security Forum and launched a successful painting career from his studio in Georgetown. A year ago, he was named Director of Governing for Impact, a project to rebuild the promise of an inclusive American democracy. Joe has been a champion of countless charitable causes and of those he believed were advancing a more compassionate and inclusive world.
Joseph left us on the evening of April 27th 2020. He is survived by his husband, family, paintings and impact on countless lives in countless corners of the world.
