Brenda Howard - May she rest in peace

Bisexual activist Brenda Howard, who was a leader of the Gay
Liberation Front and Gay Activists Alliance in the early
post-Stonewall movement, died of cancer on June 28, 2005 in Queens.

A militant activist who helped plan and participated in LGBT rights
actions for more than three decades. Ms. Howard was a major player in
starting the annual Pride celebrations that take place every year
around the world. She coordinated the 1-month anniversary rally and
the 1-year rally/march commemorating the Stonewall Rebellion, which
became the annual New York City Pride March. Howard also originated
the idea for a week-long series of events around Pride Day, called
Pride Week. Most U.S. states and many countries and cities around the
world now celebrate Pride Day/Week annually, descended
directly from those first marches and rallies in New York City which
Howard coordinated and created.

Howard's activism included the Gay Activists Alliance; the Gay
Liberation Front; the New York Area Bisexual Network's Info
Line; numerous groups at "The Center" in New York City; the 1993 March
on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Rights and Liberation; and
Stonewall 25 (1994).

Ms. Howard is survived by her partner, Larry Nelson. A funeral service
was held on Sunday, July 3 at 10 a.m. at Schwartz Brothers Memorial
Chapel, 114-03 Queens Blvd. in Forest Hills. The burial was private.

A memorial service will be held on July 31, 2005 at 12-2pm Room 301 at
the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Center 208 W 13th
Street, New York, NY 10011. For directions, see the Center's
website
at http://www.gaycenter.org

To Find out more see the Brenda Howard Memorial Website is at
http://www.nyabn.org/brenda

Time
Line Here is ONLY a SMALL number of items about Brenda.
1970's Long time chair of the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA)
1970's Member of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF)
1970's Came up with the idea of "pride week"
1970's Major player in the First March after Stonewall. (Christopher Street Liberation Day March)
She coordinated the 1-month anniversary rally and the 1-year rally/march (after STONEWALL) which became the annual Pride March which we all celebrate to this day.
1987 Was the female co-chair of the leather contingent for the '87 March on Washington.
1980's Was avidly involved in the National Leather Association local chapter (Metro)
19??'s Facilitated the "Polymorphous Perverts and Switchables" SIG at TES.
1993 Brenda was part of the core group of bi delegates (and some gay activists} who actively lobbied and educated gay and lesbian delegates from around the country
who successfully got bisexual into the title of the 1993 March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation.
1994 Worked on the Stonewall 25.
Found a pride guide that listed her under Coordinating Committee, Direct Action as "Outreach Domestic".
Found a memo from 1/7/94 that had her listed as a member of the Steering Committee
1994 Worked on the Gay Games (see pictures section) if anyone know what see did please tell me
Other items

* She Ran the New York Area Bisexual Network info line. Recording messages that give out info about NYC bi groups and returning calls.
She got the number listed in the (now Verizon) yellow pages and the center happenings and other newspapers
* She ran many groups at "The Center", the bi-sm and bi-AA groups to name only two.
* She was a member of BiPAC a bi activist group for many years in the 80’s and 90’s
* She was involved in countless activist projects and campaigns on behalf of the whole GLBT communities