Biography

Scott Fried is a youth educator, international award-winning speaker and writer. As a person living with HIV for more than three decades, he was part of and survived that 20th century pandemic, where his HIV/AIDS support group became the inspiration for the Broadway musical “RENT.” Scott’s work spotlights the teenage years, shining a powerful message of love, responsibility and self-respect.

He is the author of four books: If I Grow Up: Talking with Teens about AIDS, Love and Staying Alive, My Invisible Kingdom: Letters From the Secret Lives of Teens, and A Private Midnight: A Teenager’s Scrapbook of Secrets, and his newest, How to Raise an Elegant Teen: The ABCs of Gen Z Parenting.

He has been published in numerous periodicals and newspapers and is featured in the following books: The Five Gifts of Illness: A Reconsideration, Living Proof: Courage in the Face of AIDS, The Faces of AIDS: Lives at the Epicenter and The World is a Narrow Bridge: Stories that Celebrate Hope and Healing.

He has received the “Collaborative Program of the Year” Award at the University of Pittsburgh, “Outstanding Education Event” Award at Florida Tech, the “Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal” from Ottawa, Ontario Canada, and the “Honorary Star of the Rainbow Award” (shared with Chaz Bono) from the GLCC of Fort Lauderdale.

Each year, Scott leads a team of volunteers to Honduras to undertake community work for indigent families, conduct HIV/AIDS educational workshops, feed prisoners, and hand out thousands of free condoms.

He is an adjunct professor at Colby College where he teaches a popular class called “AIDS, Love and the Meaning of Life.” Scott lives in New York City.