1. Vernita Gray was an African-American lesbian and women's liberation activist from the beginning of those movements in Chicago.
19 Facts About Vernita Gray
1. 2.
Vernita Gray began her writing career publishing in the newsletter Lavender Woman.
3.
Vernita M Gray was born on December 8,1948 in Chicago, Illinois to Fran Gray Hairston.
4.
Vernita Gray became involved in the civil rights movement, when a friend suggested they should take part in the protests.
5.
Vernita Gray established an LGBT support hotline with the telephone number FBI-LIST, which was operated from her apartment in Hyde Park.
6.
On her return trip to Paris, Vernita Gray met James Baldwin.
7.
Vernita Gray was actively involved, participating in and helping to organize the 1970 Pride March in Chicago and writing for the Lavender Woman.
8.
Vernita Gray was not a separatist and voiced her opposition when the Women's Center operated by the Pride and Prejudice Bookstore changed to the Lesbian Feminist Center and began excluding anyone who did not accept that men and male-defined organizations and institutions should be completely separate from women's activities.
9.
Vernita Gray published a book of her own poetry, Sweet Sixteen in 1986 and participated in poetry performances at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse.
10.
Vernita Gray continued publishing in both mainstream media and gay media publications, including the newspapers Nightlines and Outlines.
11.
In 1992, Vernita Gray was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame for her many years of activism.
12.
Vernita Gray was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995 and after chemotherapy treatment her cancer went into remission.
13.
On 1999, Vernita Gray was promoted within the State's Attorney's Office to serve as a liaison for the LGBT community, participating in outreach events in the community and among the general public.
14.
In 2003 Vernita Gray's cancer returned and she opted to have a double mastectomy with immediate reconstructive surgery.
15.
When Barack Obama, whom she had worked with when he was a Senator from Illinois was elected president, Vernita Gray was invited to the White House for the 2009 Pride reception.
16.
Vernita Gray met Patricia Ewert through her work and in 2009 the two became engaged.
17.
In 2013, the couple actively were involved in campaigning for same-sex marriage in Illinois, despite Vernita Gray's cancer spreading to her brain.
18.
Vernita Gray died on 18 March 2014 from cancer at her home in Edgewater Beach.
19.
Vernita Gray was recognized by the Illinois General Assembly for her activism at the time of her death.