Year in Review: In Memoriam-A number of notable GLBT community members passed away in 2009

[The Straight Story]

A number of notable GLBT community members passed away in 2009. Peter Hackney pays tribute to some of the significant people we lost this year, and highlights their contributions.

Bea Arthur

Bea Arthur wasn’t a lesbian but she was a card-carrying member of the GLBT community. The entertainer was a queer favourite thanks to her roles in sitcoms such as The Golden Girls. She fervently returned the love – Bea staunchly campaigned for queer rights, and her legacy continued after her April 25 death when a centre for homeless gay youth received US$300,000 she bequeathed.

Erif Benham

The queer community of Northern NSW celebrated the legacy of Erif Benham on January 7, shortly after her death from brain cancer. The long-running event coordinator of Lismore’s Tropical Fruits parties, Erif was farewelled in flamboyant fashion: a ceremony in honour of her Maori roots morphed into a twelve-hour party that bid farewell to Tropical Fruits’ “fairy fucking godmother”.

Iain Clacher

As a journalist at Queensland Pride magazine from 1995 to 2000, and editor of the title from 2000 until his death on January 9 this year, Iain Clacher’s contribution to Queer Queensland was enormous. Tributes poured in from people across the country for the journalist, photographer, activist and musician who was also, to us here at Evolution Publishing, our friend and colleague.

More at link:
http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/feature/year-in-review-in-memoriam-6659.html