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BORN
1949
DIED
2024
Linda Birner Obituary
January 21, 1949 - July 3, 2024
Sacramento, California - Linda Birner, a beloved leader in the Sacramento LGBTQ+ community and founder of Mom, Guess What? Newspaper (MGW), passed away on July 3, 2024.
Linda was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana on January 21,1949. She grew up in Ohio before relocating in 1962 to Sacramento. She graduated from Mira Loma High School and California State University, Sacramento with a degree in journalism and psychology.
In 1978, Birner founded one of the first LGBTQ+ newspapers in Sacramento and named it, Mom, Guess What? Newspaper. She started the newspaper in response to state ballot Proposition 6, sponsored by State Senator John Briggs which proposed to ban gay and lesbian people from teaching in public schools.
Under the mentorship of the Sacramento Bee publisher, C.K. McClatchy, she produced a publication like the Bee, including politics, healthcare, the arts, and sports and even topics like car maintenance. Her immediate success was due to an army of volunteers including contributing writers and financial support from an abundance of advertisers who recognized the value of reaching the LGBTQ+ community.
The archives of MGW are held in trust with The Center for Sacramento History.
Birner was involved in the Sacramento political and activist community. She was President of the local chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She received the Sacramento YWCA Outstanding Women award in 1985 and recognition for serving on the Human Rights Commission from 1977 until 1981. She served as an advisor to the Sacramento City Police Department and Sacramento County Sheriff's Department and was recently involved in the Sacramento Renaissance Society.
Birner was an avid equestrian, race car driver, recreational sailor, pilot, snow skier and schnauzer's owner.
A celebration of life is planned for Linda on Thursday, September 19, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. at The Dante Center at 2330 Fair Oaks Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95825. Light refreshments provided. Everyone is invited to wear something red in Linda's honor.
Donations in memory of Linda Birner are welcome to the local Sacramento LGBT Community Center.
Contact https://saccenter.org/.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Linda Birner
1 Entry
James Koewler
August 27, 2024
RIP Linda................Thanks so much for all your love support and care in the Sacramento's Gay and Lesbian Community. You will be missed. Sincerely, James Koewler
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