RENAISSANCE GURU:
DAVID BENDER

David Bender, who curated our just-published Pride 2024 issue, is an acclaimed journalist, author and activist whom Rachel Maddow once described as her “political guru.” A founder of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), he was George magazine’s first West Coast contributor-editor (at JFK Jr.’s behest) and authored such books as the NYT bestseller Air America: The Playbook and (with rock legend David Crosby) Stand and Be Counted. He also conceived and produced the Apple TV+ series Visible: Out on Television and, with Oscar-nominated producer David Permut, is developing a music-based series with Sir Elton John and David Furnish. Why Mr. Bender elected to work with us remains a mystery, but we’re glad he did. “I dedicate this issue to Jorge, the man who kept me alive through this,” he says.