David Andrew Edmonson

Houston - David Andrew Edmonson (59), beloved son, brother, uncle, colleague, and friend, died on May 6, 2025, in Houston, Texas. A staunch defender of LGBTQ rights, Edmonson was a defining advocate of Houston gay politics, a media-savvy exponent of the arts, and a vocal ally of the dispossessed and marginalized. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on October 23,1965, to public school educators and community activists Carl and Emma Blankenship Edmonson, Andrew graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, in 1989 with a degree in English comparative literature and a lifelong passion for the theater. He took a year and a half off to travel to London and Dublin, where he "came out." He said he felt free to be himself: "My world really opened up." In 1990, he moved to Houston and worked at the Alley Theatre as public relations manager. From 1993 to 2014, he joined the Houston Ballet and held the positions of PR associate, then PR manager, and finally the company's director of marketing and public relations. Houston Ballet was one of his great loves. Andrew was renowned in Houston's arts organizations for his expertise in marketing and communications. In 2014 he joined the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, as membership manager. But his political activism had been in full swing years before. After the July 1991 murder of young banker Paul Broussard in Houston's gay district, Andrew joined Queer Nation, which would successfully protest Anita Bryant and the Republican National Convention. As he said in a 2019 OutSmart Magazine interview, "Queer Nation taught me what it's like to be an outsider...they taught me how to be brave." A prolific writer, he wrote numerous articles on gay issues, politics, and theater news for The Houston Chronicle, OutSmart Magazine, Houston Voice, and Houston Ballet News. He received the Award of Special Merit from the Texas chapter of the National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. He was co-chair of the 1999 and 2000 Houston Gay and Lesbian Film Festival; and was humbled and thrilled to be chosen as the 2023 Honorary Grand Marshall of Houston's Pride Parade and was recognized by then Mayor Sylvester Turner. He was an early supporter of Halloween Magic, whose charity benefits supported Body Positive, a local group devoted to helping AIDS sufferers, and served on the board of the Houston chapter of the American Marketing Association. As a member of oH Project, an oral history that documented the personal devastation of the AIDS crisis in Houston, the organization would receive a Mastermind Award from the Houston Press for its service to the gay community. He also worked with The Human Rights Campaign. Andrew was ceaseless in his support of LGBTQ causes and fought tirelessly for their continued success and to keep their demands in the public eye. Intelligent, full of wit and charm, and a lovely, caring man, Andrew gave all to whatever project called for his guidance and assistance. "In my personal life, my passion for the last twenty-five years has been to fight for the civil rights of LGBT Americans." He enjoyed traveling to London, Berlin, Paris, NOLA, NY, and Palm Springs. In his final days, his innate dignity, courage, and love of life never failed him. Andrew found thirty successful years of sobriety. Andrew is survived by his devoted sister, Sally Edmonson, nephew Jackson Scoggins; and niece, Stormie Juenger. A memorial service will be held at Bradshaw-Carter Funeral Home, 1734 W Alabama St. in Houston, for Five until eight o'clock in the evening on Thursday, June 12, 2025. For those that cannot make it in person, a livestream link will be available at www.bradshawcarter.com. In honor of Andrew, donations may be given to the charity of your choice. His family and friends will miss his laughter and empathy. He will be sorely missed. Rest in peace, dear Andrew. Your bountiful, generous spirit forever fights on to inspire us.