Prominent LGBTQ Deaths in 2021
The global LGBTQ community lost many notable individuals during the year. Each of these individuals has played an important and visible role in creating an awareness, sensitivity, profile, and as an activist for human rights as they relate to minorities and sexual diversities. These individuals made contributions in the field of journalism, theatre, television, film, sports, religion, activism, fashion, business, politics, and books.
The year witnessed many individuals passing away who contributed firsts in their fields: the U.K.'s first transgender model, the first out U.S. Ambassador, the U.S.'s first transgender Mayor, and the world's first woman photojournalist. The creator of the red ribbon campaign also passed away in 2021.
Each will be remembered for their personal and professional impact on their friends, communities, and the world at large. Queerbio.com is proud to ensure their legacy within the LGBTQ community.
Simply click on their names to read their fascinating biographies:
Brazil
- Ian Matos, competitive diver
Canada
- Lee Maracle, indigenous academic
- Lucas Murnaghan, underwater photographer
- Candy Palmater, comedian, broadcast journalist, and activist
Great Britain
- April Ashley, transgender model and actress
- Steve Bronski, singer and musician and co-founder of the group Bronski Beat
- Maureen Colquhoun, economist and former Labour Party Member of Parliament
- Jonathan Cooper. lawyer and human rights activist
New Zealand
- Francis Mossman, actor
Scotland
- Sophie, singer and musician
Tonga
- Polikalepo Kefu, activist
United States
- Carl Bean, religious leader
- Ivy Bottini, feminist and activist
- Richard Buckley, fashion editor
- Alix Dobkin, folk singer
- Sally Miller Gearhart, academic
- Bell hooks, author and activist
- James Hormel, philanthropist and the country's first out Ambassador
- Richard McCann, writer and poet
- Tony Navarrete, Arizona State Senator
- Patrick O'Connell, activist and creator of the red ribbon
- Stu Rasmussen, the country's first transgender Mayor
- Stephen Sondheim, award-winning musical theatre composer
- Kay Tobin, world's first women's photojournalist
- Carmen Vazquez, activist
