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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyOctober 20th, 2011
Frank Kameny, 1925-2011.
Pioneering LGBT rights advocate Frank Kameny, who died last week, spent the last decade of his life living a hand-to-mouth existence financially. His firing from the Army Map Service in 1957 was the start of a long career dedicated to fighting for equality for LGBT Americans, but being a self-supporting gay rights advocate does not come with a retirement plan. If he hadn’t been fired in 1957, of course, he would have had a decent goverment pension. Instead, like many LGBT seniors, he relied on a number of Washington, D.C. social services, principally HOBS (Healping our Brothers and Sisters). HOBS has established a funeral fund to cover expesnes for Frank’s cremation and memorial. Tax deductible contributions can be made at helpingourbrothersandsisters.com or by mail to HOBS, P.O. Box 53477, Washington, D.C. 20009.
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Timothy Kincaid
October 20th, 2011
Often the elderly rely on their children – the one’s they cared for, fought for, loved, sheltered and tended when they were weak and helpless – to care for them when they get old. And when they die, it is up to the ones they raised and instilled with confidence and self-worth to establish the remembrance that is due.
We are Frank Kameny’s children.
AdrianT
October 20th, 2011
A shame – if only I had known, I would have gladly given a few quid any time in the last decade to support him.
I won’t donate now as he is not here to benefit from it. Personally, the worst scenario is that I am accorded a lavish funeral, with folks consuming huge amounts of fine beer and single malt whisky or whatever, and me lying in a box. What’s the point? That’s a fate worse than death.
Ray Harwick
October 20th, 2011
Timothy gets it right.
Tony P
October 20th, 2011
I donated $100. I challenge you all to meet or beat that number. He deserves a funeral.
Jay Jonson
October 21st, 2011
TonyP, I am going right now to match your challenge. As Tim said, we are Frank Kameny’s children.
Thanks, Jim, for calling attention to this need.
Tone
October 21st, 2011
Sadly there are too many LGBT rights pioneers who, after dedicating their lives to fighting injustice, retire with little more than what is in their wallets. As much as we lionize our leaders and activists, they really don’t make a great deal of money at it.
A prominent Canadian LGBT leader who has worked for us for over 40 years recently told me that he will have to work until he dies. After founding nine organizations and helping drive our rights to where they are today, he’s still broke, save for his house which is almost paid for. He could have been a scientist. His gift to us is our human rights. Our gift to him is poverty.
Ben In Oakland
October 21st, 2011
Just amde my donation.
c’mon everyone. give yourself something to brag about.
San Diego Rob
October 22nd, 2011
So I’m over reading on yahoo news right now the comments left by users on that race car drivers death. And I can’t believe the hard on all these people have for this guy and all the love and positive comments they are leaving and if you say anything bad about how dangerous a sport this is or how if he didn’t race he could still be with his family you get blasted by everyone over there for being heartless, and yet these are the same people who left hateful messages when Frank Kameny died and when all these teens commit suicide. It is so amazing.
Soren456
October 23rd, 2011
I have a feeling that these last expenses will, by now, be well covered.
Is there something that was particularly dear to Kameny to which further donations can be made?
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