In a note left nearby his body in the southwest corner of Prospect Park, David explained that he chose to die by self-immolation in protest and to illustrate the damage that fossil fuels are doing to the environment. He also apologized in advance to those that would discover his burned body.

Through his work with Lambda Legal, David was a force to secure and expand the rights of the LGBT community across the country. After a long legal career, he had recently began focusing on urban composting and environmentalism, building projects at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the Red Hook Community Farm.

You can visit the Red Hook Farm to volunteer and learn about composting on Fridays and Saturdays. Check their website to learn more at added-value.org.