Maria Maggenti

Background: Maria is a 26 year old, white lesbian. She spent some of her teenage years living in Lagos, Nigeria, then went to Smith College, studying philosophy and classical culture. When she moved to New York after college, she went to the Community Center looking for lesbian/feminist causes to get involved with, but was drawn to the energy of ACT UP. She has worked a variety of temp jobs -- many found through people at ACT UP -- which gives her a lot of time to participate in many committees, actions, and zaps.

Role in ACT UP: Maria is a magnetic personality in ACT UP -- by her own description loud and passionate. She has been on the Zaps Committee, the Coordinating Committee, the Outreach Committee, the Actions Committee, the Women’s Caucus, and has been a Monday night meeting facilitator in the past (facilitators served limited terms of a few months).

Groups/friends at the meeting: Maria knows practically everyone. But at this meeting she is probably most focused on working with her affinity group, the Delta Queens, on their action for Target City Hall. Her current lover is ACT UPer Heidi Dorow. 

Specific tasks at the March 13, 1989 meeting:  Maria is planning to run for the facilitator position that is opening up because Karl Soehnlein is stepping down. She will need to deliver a short speech to the Floor.

Additional information: https://actuporalhistory.org/numerical-interviews/010-maria-maggenti