1. Jean O'Leary was an American lesbian and gay rights activist.
12 Facts About Jean O'Leary
1. 2.
Jean O'Leary was the founder of Lesbian Feminist Liberation, one of the first lesbian activist groups in the women's movement, and an early member and co-director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force.
3.
Jean O'Leary was born in Kingston, New York, and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.
4.
In 1971 Jean O'Leary moved to New York City and did doctoral studies in organization development at Yeshiva University.
5.
In 1977, Jean O'Leary organized the first meeting of gay rights activists at the White House through arrangements made with White House staffer Midge Costanza.
6.
Jean O'Leary was the first openly gay person appointed to a presidential commission, the National Commission on the Observance of International Women's Year, by Jimmy Carter.
7.
In November 1977, Jean O'Leary was a speaker at the 1977 National Women's Conference.
8.
Jean O'Leary was among three openly gay delegates to the United States Democratic Party convention in 1976.
9.
Jean O'Leary served on the Democratic National Committee for 12 years, 8 of those on the executive committee.
10.
Jean O'Leary co-founded National Coming Out Day with Rob Eichberg in 1988.
11.
Jean O'Leary was referring to the Lavender Menace, a description by second wave feminist Betty Friedan for attempts by members of the National Organization for Women to distance themselves from the perception of NOW as a haven for lesbians.
12.
Jean O'Leary died on June 4,2005, in San Clemente, California, of lung cancer, aged 57.