Gay Rights Activist And First National President Of PFLAG Dies
From Adele Starr's LA Times obituary:
"Adele Starr, a Brentwood mother of five who overcame dismay at her son's homosexuality to become a leading voice for gay rights and marriage equality, has died. She was 90. In 1976, Starr founded the Los Angeles chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, a gay rights and acceptance organization known then as Parent FLAG, now as PFLAG.
In 1979, she spoke on the steps of the U.S. Capitol at a march for gay rights — a seminal event often credited with uniting a then-nascent movement. Two years later, she became PFLAG's first national president; she served in that capacity until 1986 and remained a forceful advocate for civil rights and, in later years, for the legalization of same-sex marriage."
Current PFLAG national President Rabbi David M. Horowitz issued this statement: “May Adele’s family be comforted at this time of loss by the history she created and with the knowledge that the struggle for LGBT on a national scale began with her."
I've always said, and now repeat: There are no more energetic and committed supporters of equality than PFLAG parents! Thank you, Adele.
Posted by: K in VA | Dec 12, 2010 11:22:25 AM
Thank You so much Adele for your commitment and hard work in the fight for gay rights and equality
Posted by: Zo | Dec 12, 2010 11:56:34 AM
We owe PFLAG and pioneers like Adele--and her friends and colleagues--more than we can ever repay. Thank you all!
Posted by: TruthSeeker_Too | Dec 12, 2010 12:00:57 PM
Thank you Adele. Thank you.
Posted by: James UK | Dec 12, 2010 12:10:32 PM
Rest in peace, Adele.
Posted by: peterparker | Dec 12, 2010 12:21:36 PM
What an impressive woman--someone who really understood that to love and accept a gay son or daughter means engaging in a public and political struggle for acceptance, too. I hope she knows how much she was appreciated.
Posted by: E. | Dec 12, 2010 1:16:11 PM
courageous woman - Rest In Peace
Posted by: ACe | Dec 12, 2010 2:10:59 PM
Thank you Adele. "May your memory be a blessing."
(Unfortunately, WBC's announcement of a protest at her funeral in 3... 2... 1....)
Posted by: FixItAgainTony | Dec 12, 2010 3:18:59 PM
She helped me through the hardest part of my life. RIP sweet lady.
Posted by: patrick nyc | Dec 12, 2010 4:06:14 PM
PFLAG is great, support them with your money, work, words, and deeds.
Posted by: Sargon Bighorn | Dec 12, 2010 4:26:20 PM
A wonderful woman. RIP
Posted by: Drew | Dec 12, 2010 5:02:11 PM
May God rest the soul of this wonderful woman who created an organisation that brings in the most important weapon in our arsenal against bigotry and prejudice: our families.
We owe a great debt to her courage and vision. Thank you Adele Starr!
Posted by: jamal49 | Dec 12, 2010 6:43:19 PM
THIS is kind of person we should be putting on a pedastal on this siteZ! tis woman's kindness and hardwork is will never be forgotten and had the lives of US and our generation a better place. Rest..
Posted by: shannon | Dec 12, 2010 7:36:04 PM
I never met you, but rest in peace Adele.
Posted by: Sylvatica | Dec 12, 2010 8:07:41 PM
Thank you, Adele, for making the world a better place.
Posted by: justiceontherocks | Dec 12, 2010 10:19:08 PM
Thank you Adele Starr. You are truly a brave and remarkable woman. I wish all parents were like you.
Posted by: Don | Dec 13, 2010 2:11:50 AM
There's no one in this world more deserving of having scholarships named after her. I wonder if there's an effort to make that happen?
Posted by: The Milkman | Dec 13, 2010 10:33:15 AM
Adele Starr's commitment to gay people and their families was invaluable. My mom joined the PFLAG group in our area back in the 1980's and it was a place where my mom and I could go grow. The support and education has made all the difference.
Posted by: Mary | Jan 4, 2011 11:15:08 AM