The LGBT community lost someone very important today:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
CONCORD, N.H. -- Charlie Morgan, a chief warrant officer in the New Hampshire Army National Guard who fought to repeal the federal law that bars her wife from receiving benefits to help care for their daughter, has died. She was 48.
Morgan died Sunday at a hospice in Dover after a battle with breast cancer, said a spokesman for Gov. Maggie Hassan.
Morgan, of New Durham, was a nationally recognized advocate in the effort to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act. She was a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit in 2011 saying the act violated her constitutional rights. - Huffington Post, 2/11/13
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D. NH) has praised Morgan's work in the fight to repeal DOMA. She is gathering signatures for a sympathy card for Morgan's family:
I write with a heavy heart to let you know that a fierce advocate for LGBT rights and friend of mine has passed.
Charlie Morgan, an American hero, veteran of Kuwait and member of the New Hampshire National Guard, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
I’ve known Charlie since 2011 when she fought discrimination against LGBT service members after her wife, Karen, was not allowed to attend a military family event. I wrote Secretary Panetta to share Charlie and Karen’s experience, and the decision was overturned as a result.
Charlie fought for our country abroad and fought for equality at home. I’ll miss her.
Will you join me in extending condolences to Charlie’s widow, Karen, and their daughter, Casey Elena?
Karen and Casey Elena, we are here for you and want to let you know how much Charlie’s service meant to us and that we will continue fighting for LGBT equality in her honor.
http://www.democratsenators.org/...
Charlie has been a leader in the fight to repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. Because of this unjust law, her family won’t receive the same military, Social Security and pension benefits as those of other military families.
We have to keep fighting for full equality.
Let’s make sure Karen and Casey know we’re praying for them.
Thanks for your support,
Jeanne
You can sign Shaheen's card here:
http://www.democratsenators.org/...
A service has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday at South Church in Portsmouth.