Statement by Joe Solmonese of the Human Rights Campaign on the passing of former Congressman Gerry Studds
by
PageOneQ
"As the first openly gay member of Congress, Gerry Studds was a pioneer.
And one of the many lessons he left is that one can lead an open and
authentic life and do good. Gerry was one of the first to understand the
fear and inequity faced by gay and lesbian service members and he worked
tirelessly on their behalf. Equally important, he was beloved by the
constituents of his coastal district for his advocacy on behalf of the
fishing industry and the ocean environment. Gerry Studds understood that
the greatest contribution he could make to his community was to do an
extraordinary job, and that his why he was resoundingly reelected time
after time until he chose to retire.
"To a younger generation who
did not know Gerry Studds, we have an
obligation to tell a story of courage, hard work, and remarkable oratory
whether delivered on behalf of the fisheries or the GLBT community.
"Gerry and his longtime partner, Dean T. Hara married in 2004, shortly
after same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts. We extend our
deepest sympathies to Mr. Hara and to the other members of the family."
The Human Rights Campaign is America's largest civil rights organization
working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By
inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination
against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental
fairness and equality for all.
