Passing of Dana Turner, Esq, Transgender Rights Activis

[Shana A]

Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Passing of Dana Turner, Esq, Transgender Rights Activist
Posted by Martine Rothblatt at 4:47 PM

http://transgender2transhuman.blogspot.com/2011/06/passing-of-dana-turner-esq-transgender.html

Dana Turner uniquely navigated the worlds of civil rights law, public theater activism and computerized research.  She was born October 13, 1954 in Gary, Indiana, grew up in California and graduated from Georgetown Law School.  After working at the Library of Congress she moved to New York City to practice law on behalf of the transgender and HIV+ communities.  She used her lively sense of humor, magnetic personality and strategic insight to pioneer the use of public theatre for civil rights activism.  This was famously achieved with her organization of, and starring in, the first ever Drag Show on the Mall at the 1992 March on Washington for Gay & Lesbian Rights.   She later starred for several years as the "Mz Liberty" persona on behalf of oppressed people in New York City Gay Pride events.  Her work for the International Conferences on Transgender Law & Employment Policy helped put the "T" in the GLBT alliance, as well as deepen its sensitivity to issues of race, class and gender.   Ms. Turner was particularly respected for her computerized legal research, which she used to aid many economically, racially and sexually oppressed people.  She also served on the board of the World Against Racism Foundation, and provided legal support to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project.

[Shana A]

Jun 23 2011
Danny Heffernan, GLAAD's National News Intern

GLAAD Mourns Death of Trans Advocate Dana Turner

http://glaadblog.org/2011/06/23/glaad-mourns-death-of-trans-advocate-dana-turner/

GLAAD was saddened earlier this week to hear of the loss of Dana Turner, a long-term advocate in the LGBT community, particularly in the area of transgender issues.

Dana was born in Indiana, grew up in California, and graduated from Georgetown Law School. After working at the Library of Congress, she moved to New York City to practice law and advocacy work on behalf of the transgender and HIV+ communities. She participated in several International Conferences on Transgender Law & Employment Policy and assisted the Sylvia Rivera Law Project, providing support to transgender, intersex, and gender non-conforming people in prison.