Dennis Levy

Dennis Levy, Rick Levy, and his brother Harry Levy founded the Black and Latino AIDS Coalition, Inc (Blac NY).[4] It was one of the nation's first AIDS organizations for heterosexual black and Latino people living with AIDS. Blac NY was modeled after the national direct action advocacy group ACT UP and received financial assistance and technical help from Gay Men's Health Crisis (GMHC). Under Levy's leadership, Blac NY educated thousands of black and Latino heterosexuals about AIDS. He helped turn public attention to the crisis by writing about "AIDS in the hood".[5][6][7] Levy challenged the mainstream AIDS establishment on the issues of mandatory reporting and partner notification.[8]

Dennis Levy was part of the changing face of AIDS as a heterosexual African American man.[9][10] Heterosexual African Americans represented one of the largest and fastest growing populations for new AIDS cases.[11] Levy addressed the homophobic fears of African American heterosexual men.[12] Blac NY worked to get the help of black and Latino churches in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The effort resulted in over 30 national HIV/AIDS organizations and leaders calling for the development and implementation of a comprehensive national AIDS strategy.[13] On July 13, 2010, the White House released the National HIV/AIDS Strategy (NHAS),[14] the nation's first comprehensive, coordinated HIV/AIDS roadmap with clear and measurable targets.

For his AIDS, Levy began a regimen that included an antiviral therapy, but the therapy's side effects included disorientation and nausea and caused pain throughout his body. Nothing he tried reduced the side effects. A friend suggested Levy try smoking marijuana. Levy began smoking marijuana regularly and it helped him with his side effects from AIDS medicines and eliminated the incredible headaches he used to get. He discovered many people used marijuana for similar reasons. There is evidence that medical marijuana works.[15] Levy decided to become an advocate for legal medical marijuana, so he founded the New York State Committee to Legalize Marijuana with Rick Levy.[16] Dennis Levy became President and Rick Levy was Vice President of Social Media.[17] Levy has worked with International social and political activist Dana Beal in advocating for the legalization of marijuana.

Levy is a member of the Green Party of New York. He was the Green party candidate for the New York State Assembly Seat of the convicted speaker Sheldon Silver in an April 19, 2016, special election. Levy faced Democratic candidate Alice Cancel, Republican Lester Chang, and Working Families Party candidate Yuh-Line Niou. Cancel won with 41% of the vote, besting Niou by 1,034 votes, with Chang and Levy together taking 23%.