oliticians and activists,

family members, col-

leagues, and friends
mourned the death of Jean
O’Leary last month. O’Leary, a
former nun, facilitated the first
White House meeting with gay
and lesbian rights advocates in
1977, got recognition for and
chaired the Democratic
National Committee’s ‘LGBT
Caucus, co-founded National
Coming Out Day in 1988, and
was a pioneering co-director of
the National Gay and Lesbian
Task Force, among other
achievements. O’Leary died of
lung cancer at the home of her
partner of 12 years, Lisa
Phelps. She was 57.

In a statement issued
by the NGLTF, Matt Foreman
listed some of the many tasks
and concerns she took on: “She
advocated for gay rights in

.immigration and naturalization

law, campaigned to repeal anti-
sodomy statues, and advocated
with the Federal Communica-
tions Commission and the U.S.
Civil Rights Commission. In
all, her efforts helped make gay
rights a national issue in the
late l970s. Her commitments to
feminism and anti-racism live
on as core values of the Task
Force.”

O’Leary was born in
Kingston, New York, educated
in Catholic schools in Cleve-
land, Ohio, and at age 18
entered the convent of the
Sisters of the Holy Humility of
Mary. She left after five years
to pursue a graduate degree at
Yeshiva University, where she
became active in gay and les-

in memoriam

Jean
O’Leary

bian political groups, eventual-
ly co-chairing with Bruce
Voeller the group that became
the NGLTF.

Human Rights
Campaign Director Joe
Solmonese praised O’Leary’ for
her work on National Coming
Out Day. “As an early advocate
and pioneer for equality Jean
O’Leary was a true hero. By
co-founding National Coming
Out Day, she recognized the
enormous power that visibility
could have in the fight for
equal rights for gay, lesbian,
bisexual and transgender peo-
ple. We are deeply saddened by
her loss.” .

Democratic Party offi-
cials also paid tribute to
O’Leary’s pragmatic and pio-
neering role in the establish-
ment of an lgbt caucus in the
party. DNC Chairman Howard
Dean said, “Jean O’Leary was
an outstanding leader and a pio-
neer of gay activism in the
Democratic Party. As chair of
the lgbt caucus and a member
of the DNC executive commit-
tee she was an outspoken advo-
cate of equal rights for all
Americans. Jean will_be sorely
missed, but her spirit, her work,
and herlegacy will long be
remembered.”

Current DNC LGBT
Caucus Chair Jeff Soref like-
wise honored O’Leary’s politi-
cal legacy. “Jean broke new
ground for lgbt people in the '
Democratic Party. She was a
patient, supportive and deter-
mined leader, as well as a per-
sonal friend and mentor. With
Jean’s leadership, a powerful

LGBT Caucus emerged at the
DNC. She succeeded in having
the Caucus officially recog- V
nized and gaining a seat on the
DNC Executive Committee.
She helped achieve more equal
representation for LGBT people

_ at all levels of party affairs,

including the presidential nomi-
nating convention, where our
numbers more than doubled."
Because of Jean's pioneering
work, today LGBT people have
prominent roles in the national
partyand in states across the
country. She leaves an historic
legacy.” _
In 1983, O’Leary
founded Women's Night, the
first large star—studded gala
fundraising event for lesbians.
Early honorees included lesbian
and feminist icons such as
Gloria Steinem, Jane Fonda,
Bella Abzug, Congresswoman ‘
Maxine Waters, author Lillian
Faderman and writer/director
Donna Dietch (Desert Hearts),
according to the Women’s
Night website.
In 1992 Women's

Night became an event of the
Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian
Center. In 2004, the center paid
a special tribute .to O’Leary
(see www.womensnight.com/
honorees_2004.htm). V

Your Clguri Liiit Cietawaq

p ‘FA/0
Villagesquare
In the Heart of Ogunqult 0'

Heated Pool & Spa 0
Continental Breakfast

Ocean View

Newly Renovated Rooms

Two Village Square
14 Village Square Lane ' Ogunquit, ME 03907

:c:—.!.'~~.;<'~>.~;'-‘gs

wwwtwovillagesquare.Com

Nancy Ellen Judd, MA '
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor

COUNSEUNG AND PSYCHOTHERAPY

$802 2863 . 2084

2 CHURCH STREET. BURLINGTON VT 05401

 

TEENS I ADULTS E INDIVIDUALS I COUPLES

   
   

© PHOENIX RISING ’‘

spirited jewelry it gifts * gallery

* 0Den 7days
34 state street monlpe|ier,vlO5602 802.229.0522