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Obituaries

Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva, fierce LGBTQ+ ally & progressive champion, dies at 77

His office confirmed his death in a statement.

Christopher Durang, gay author of 'Sister Mary Ignatius' and other plays, has died

The Tony winner was also known for Beyond Therapy, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, and more.

Former U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, champion of 'don't ask, don't tell' repeal, dead at 82

Lieberman, who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000, leaves a largely pro-LGBTQ+ record.

Pat Logue, Lambda Legal attorney who won landmark cases, has died

“Pat Logue was a brilliant lawyer, a trailblazing jurist, and a hero to the LGBTQ community," says a Lambda Legal statement.

Cecilia Gentili, trans activist, actress, and author, has died at 52

Gentili worked for the rights of trans people and others, and was an actress on Pose and an award-winning author.

Queer Food Network chef Anne Burrell dies at 55

Anne Burrell shared her cooking skills in shows like Secrets of a Restaurant Chef and Worst Cooks in America.

Gay teacher who helped students, including Oscar-winner Julianne Moore, find their voice, takes final bow

Richard F. Smith gave so many students their first standing ovation.

A veteran came out as gay in his obituary. Now, his family is praising his final 'salute'

The niece of Edward Thomas Ryan, the decorated military veteran who came out as gay in his obituary, is proud her uncle "got to open doors for other people."

Sharon Lubinski, first out LGBTQ+ U.S. marshal and Minneapolis police officer, has died at 71

Lubinski eventually became assistant Minneapolis police chief.

Gay Godfather David Mixner was both pro-sex and pro-equality

Reflecting on the legacy of the man who brought LGBTQ+ liberation to the White House.

Steven Ostrow, creator of NYC's legendary Continental Baths, dead at 91

An accomplished operatic singer, Ostrow is best known for the gay bathhouse where Bette Midler, Barry Manilow, and others launched their careers performing to naked gay men.

Pioneering LGBTQ+ activist Ann Maguire has died at 80

Maguire cohosted a gay talk show in Boston in the 1970s and helped elect the nation's first out state legislator, Elaine Noble of Massachusetts.

Edmund White, pioneering queer author, dead at 85

From Forgetting Elena to The Joy of Gay Sex to The Loves of My Life: A Sex Memoir, White was a groundbreaking gay author.

Jill Sobule, 'I Kissed a Girl' singer-songwriter, dies in house fire

Sobule, who was bisexual, became famous with the sapphic anthem, but her career also included a total of 12 albums and an autobiographical musical.

Madonna's brother Christopher Ciccone dies at 63

Beyond his career as an artist and designer, Christopher Ciccone also worked as a creative director for his sister, Madonna, in the 1990s.

Harvey Milk's original Advocate obituary from 1979

The gay rights icon was memorialized in the January 11, 1979 issue of The Advocate. Read the obituary below.

Conjoined twins Lori Schappell and trans man George Schappell dead at 62

They were initially expected to survive only a year but had long and full lives.

Lesbian News publisher Ella Matthes has died at 81

She oversaw North America’s longest-running lesbian publication.

David Mixner, veteran LGBTQ+ activist and presidential adviser, has died at 77

Mixner's advocacy spanned from the 1960s movements for civil rights and peace to the 21st-century fight for marriage equality and included notable involvement with Bill Clinton on the issue of gays in the military.