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Former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry has Died

Former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry has Died

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An early supporter of gay rights, Barry may best be remembered for successfully re-entering public service after serving jail time for drug possession.

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Washington, D.C. city council member and former D.C. mayor Marion Barry died late Saturday night at United Medical Center, according to Lou Chibbaro Jr. of the Washington Blade. Chibbaro reports that Barry, who was 78, was "hospitalized and released earlier Saturday from another hospital after an illness" and no cause of death has been released.

Perhaps best known as the three-term mayor who was arrested and went to prison for drug possession, then rebounded, served another term as mayor and 15 years total on the city council.

According to Chibbaro, Barry was an early supporter of gay rights who "openly courted gay votes early in his political career, much to the disappointment of some prominent city pastors."

However, when the D.C. city council voted 11-2 to legalize same-sex marriage in 2009, Barry was one of those who voted no.

Read the Blade's full op-ed here.

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Diane Anderson-Minshall

Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.
Diane Anderson-Minshall is the CEO of Pride Media, and editorial director of The Advocate, Out, and Plus magazine. She's the winner of numerous awards from GLAAD, the NLGJA, WPA, and was named to Folio's Top Women in Media list. She and her co-pilot of 30 years, transgender journalist Jacob Anderson-Minshall penned several books including Queerly Beloved: A Love Across Genders.