Campos with his aunt

By Neal Broverman

Originally published on Advocate.com November 10 2012 7:03 PM ET

Brandon Lacy Campos, a prolific writer and celebrated activist, was found dead on Friday in New York City, according to Rod 2.0.

Campos previously served as the co-executive director for the group Queers for Economic Justice. He also wrote candidly in magazines and blogs about his mixed-race heritage, his status as an HIV-positive man, and his battle with crystal methamphetamine. Campos was also a poet and saw an anthology of his work, It Ain't Truth If It Doesn't Hurt, published. Campos was also a contributor to last year's anthology, From Macho to Mariposa: New Gay Latino Fiction.

Campos was born in Minnesota and became an activist in his teens, becoming the co-chair of the National Queer Student Coalition at age 20. Campos tested HIV-positive while just out of college, and turned his infection into a call-to-arms, writing about the disease and its effect on young gay men. The activist was also involved with the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the New York organization that provides counseling and legal assistance to LGBT youth.

The multi-talented Campos has left "an incredible lasting legacy," Virginia-based novelist Rodney Loften told Rod 2.0.