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."
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.
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.