Urvashi Vaid was an influential activist for LGBTQ+ rights who was a former executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
- Died: Saturday, May 14, 2022. (Who else died on May 14?)
- Details of death: Died from cancer at the age of 63.
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Pioneering LGBTQ+ activist
Urvashi Vaid was born in New Delhi, India, coming to the United States with her family at the age of 8. After graduating from Northeastern University Law School, she was a staff lawyer at ACLU’s prison project, working on better treatment for prisoners who had HIV or AIDS. She was the executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force from 1989 until 1992, with much of her focus on the AIDS crisis. In 2012, she started LPAC, the first lesbian super PAC, which had backing from tennis legend Billie Jean King, actress Jane Lynch, and Chicago Cubs co-owner Laura Ricketts. She published books and wrote a column for the Advocate.
Notable Quote
“We call for the end of the world as we know it. We call for the end of racism and sexism and bigotry as we know it. For the end of violence and discrimination and homophobia as we know it. For the end of sexism as we know it. We stand for freedom as we have yet to know it, and we will not be denied.” – She said in a speech at a 1993 March on Washington for gay rights, according to the Washington Post
Tributes to Urvashi Vaid
Full Obituary: Washington Post
