Brenda Howard obit
Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2005 20:33:14 -0000
From: “Vince Gay”
Subject: Remembering a Bi Queer-Rights Pioneer
Bisexual activist Brenda Howard, who was a leader of the Gay
Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance in the early
post-Stonewall movement, died of cancer on June 28, 2005 in Queens.
A militant activist who helped plan and participated in LGBT rights
actions for more than three decades. Ms. Howard was a major player in
starting the annual Pride celebrations that take place every year
around the world. She coordinated the 1-month anniversary rally and
the 1-year rally/march commemorating the Stonewall Rebellion, which
became the annual New York City Pride March. Howard also originated
the idea for a week-long series of events around Pride Day, called
Pride Week. Most U.S. states and many countries and cities around the
world now celebrate Pride Day/Week annually, descended
directly from those first marches and rallies in New York City which
Howard coordinated and created.
Howard’s activism included the Gay Activists Alliance; the Gay
Liberation Front; the New York Area Bisexual Network’s Info
Line; numerous groups at “The Center” in New York City; the 1993 March
on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Rights and Liberation; and
Stonewall 25 (1994).
Ms. Howard is survived by her partner, Larry Nelson. A funeral service
was held on Sunday, July 3 at 10 a.m. at Schwartz Brothers Memorial
Chapel, 114-03 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills. The burial was private.
A memorial service will be held on July 31, 2005 at 12-2pm Room 301 at
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 208 W 13th
Street, New York, NY 10011. For directions, see the Center’s
website at http://www.gaycenter.org
To Find out more see the Brenda Howard Memorial Website is at
http://www.nyabn.org/brenda
