Photo courtesy of Vernita Gray From 2010 Esteem Awards
Longtime gay rights activist and 2010 PrideIndex.com Esteem Award winner Vernita Gray has died.
Ms Gray was most recently known for her part in the marriage equality movement she and her partner Patricia Ewert became Illinois first same sex couple to be married.
The longtime gay rights advocate first became active in the community attending an event at the Woodstock Music Festival. She was inducted into Chicago’s Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1992. Gray, 65, died Tuesday night at her Edgewater Beach home after a long battle with breast cancer. She died, was surrounded by her partner, friends and family.
A memorial will be held on Monday, March 31, 1 p.m. at the Goodman Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn in Chicago.
Tweet From Governor Pat Quinn: I join the People of Illinois in offering thoughts and prayers to Vernita Gray’s wife Pat and their family.
More Stories On Gray on internet:
Windy City Times video: First Illinois Same-Sex Marriage: Vernita Gray and Pat Ewert 11-27-2013 at the link: www.youtube.com/watch .
The Chicago Tribune: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-longtime-gay-rights-advocate-dies-20140319,0,4898911.story
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/03/19/vernita-gray-dead_n_4993247.html
MSN: http://news.msn.com/us/dying-lesbian-gets-judges-ok-to-wed-ahead-of-new-law
Chicago Pheonix: http://chicagophoenix.com/2014/03/19/lesbian-pioneer-vernita-gray-dies-at-65/
