Noted lesbian activist Kathy Worthington dies

[helderheid]

Noted lesbian activist Kathy Worthington dies
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 03/01/2007 06:54:06 AM MST

Posted: 6:56 AM- When her partner, Sara Hamblin, was suffering from breast cancer some 10 years ago, Kathy Worthington fought her employer to take a leave to care for Hamblin and won. Then she battled the hospital that refused to name her as Hamblin's "spouse" and won.

Now, the couple's ashes will be joined together.

Worthington, a well-known Utah gay community activist, died in her Taylorsville home on Feb. 22 - the day after the one-year anniversary of Hamblin's death. She was 56. People close to Worthington declined to say how she died.

Worthington, a divorced mother of two daughters, came out publicly as a lesbian in 1989, according to an obituary in Wednesday's Tribune. She later became known as an advocate for gay and straight women's rights, breast cancer awareness and for people who had left The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

She started a lesbian community newsletter and also organized social and women's support groups. Worthington later founded a Web site (www.mormonnomore.com) that provides information about how to resign from the Mormon church.

"She really had no fear about being a pioneer," said Marie Duffin, who became friends with Worthington in the past year. "She defended people who didn't have people to defend them."

MORE

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5330405

R.I.P.

[wicket]

1. RIP

Sounds like she was one awesome lady.

:patriot:

[Cerridwen]

2. Awful, awful news.

Her friends and family have my sympathies and hopes for healing during such a horrible time.

A lesbian activist in Utah? She must have had the heart of a lion(ess) to fight that fight.

R.I.P. Ms Worthington.

[TechBear_Seattle]

3. No need to put parentheses around the ess

Lions are lazy cowards; lionesses are the ones who do the hunting and who defend the pride.

[Cerridwen]

6. You know that, and I know that :D

I was making a point for those who don't know that.

:D

[bridgit]

4. a sadness this day as well, safe passage Kathy...

O8)

[helderheid]

5. More on her and her wife's lives:

http://www.geocities.com/kathywut/homepage.html

[JackRiddler]

7. Thank you - RIP

[helderheid]

8. In lieu of flowers, here are 2 Utah organizations - perhaps a DU donation

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Utah Pride Center (www.utahpridecenter.org) or Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (www.bestfriends.org).