Jean O'Leary
Encyclopedia
Jean O'Leary was an American
gay and lesbian rights activist.
and raised in Ohio
, in 1966, just out of high school, O'Leary entered the novitiate
of the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary
, in order to "have an impact on the world." After graduating from Cleveland State University
with a Psychology degree, she left the convent in 1970 before completing the period of training, and would later write about her experience in a 1984 anthology, Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence. She moved to New York City
and did doctoral work at Yeshiva University
.
At the time, she became involved with the nascent gay rights movement, joining the Gay Activists' Alliance
(GAA) Chapter in Brooklyn and later lobbying state politicians. In 1972, she left the male-dominated GAA and founded Lesbian Feminist Liberation, one of the first lesbian activist groups in the women's movement. Two years later, she joined the National Gay Task Force
, negotiating gender parity in its executive with director Bruce Voeller
and joining as co-executive director.
In 1977 she organized the first meeting of gay rights activists in the White House
through arrangements made with White House staffer Midge Costanza
. She 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
. In this role she negotiated for gay and lesbian rights to be included on the discussion in a conference marking the year in Houston, Texas
.
She was the first openly lesbian
delegate to a national political convention, attending the Democratic convention in 1976, and served on the Democratic National Committee
for 12 years, 8 of those on the Executive Committee, another first.
During the early 1980s she focused on building National Gay Rights Advocates, then one of the largest national gay and lesbian rights groups. It was one of the first to respond to the HIV
/AIDS
epidemic's implications for legal and civil liberties, using aggressive litigation to ensure AIDS patients' access to treatment.
She co-founded National Coming Out Day
with Rob Eichberg in 1987.
She died in San Clemente, California
of lung cancer
, aged 57. She was survived by her partner Lisa Phelps, their daughter Victoria, their son David de Maria, his life partner James Springer, and David and James' son Aiden de Maria.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gay and lesbian rights activist.
Biography
Born in Kingston, New YorkKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
and raised in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, in 1966, just out of high school, O'Leary entered the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary
Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary
The Institute of the Sisters of the Holy Humility of Mary is a Roman Catholic religious congregation, founded at Dommartin-sous-Amance, France, in 1855,...
, in order to "have an impact on the world." After graduating from Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University
Cleveland State University is a public university located in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. It was established in 1964 when the state of Ohio assumed control of Fenn College, and it absorbed the Cleveland-Marshall College of Law in 1969...
with a Psychology degree, she left the convent in 1970 before completing the period of training, and would later write about her experience in a 1984 anthology, Lesbian Nuns: Breaking Silence. She moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and did doctoral work at Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
.
At the time, she became involved with the nascent gay rights movement, joining the Gay Activists' Alliance
Gay Activists' Alliance
The Gay Activists Alliance was founded in New York City on December 21, 1969, after the Stonewall riots, by dissident members of the Gay Liberation Front . Some early members included Jim Owles, Marty Robinson, Kay Lahusen, Arthur Bell, Arthur Evans, Sylvia Rae Rivera, Marsha P...
(GAA) Chapter in Brooklyn and later lobbying state politicians. In 1972, she left the male-dominated GAA and founded Lesbian Feminist Liberation, one of the first lesbian activist groups in the women's movement. Two years later, she joined the National Gay Task Force
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force builds the political power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community from the ground up. The Task Force is the country’s premier social justice organization fighting to improve the lives of LGBT people, and working to create positive, lasting...
, negotiating gender parity in its executive with director Bruce Voeller
Bruce Voeller
Bruce Raymond Voeller was a biologist and researcher, primarily in the study of AIDS.-Biography:Voeller was born in Minneapolis...
and joining as co-executive director.
In 1977 she organized the first meeting of gay rights activists in the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
through arrangements made with White House staffer Midge Costanza
Midge Costanza
Margaret Costanza , widely known as "Midge", was an American Presidential advisor, social and political activist...
. She 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
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
. In this role she negotiated for gay and lesbian rights to be included on the discussion in a conference marking the year in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
.
She was the first openly lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
delegate to a national political convention, attending the Democratic convention in 1976, and served on the Democratic National Committee
Democratic National Committee
The Democratic National Committee is the principal organization governing the United States Democratic Party on a day to day basis. While it is responsible for overseeing the process of writing a platform every four years, the DNC's central focus is on campaign and political activity in support...
for 12 years, 8 of those on the Executive Committee, another first.
During the early 1980s she focused on building National Gay Rights Advocates, then one of the largest national gay and lesbian rights groups. It was one of the first to respond to the HIV
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
/AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
epidemic's implications for legal and civil liberties, using aggressive litigation to ensure AIDS patients' access to treatment.
She co-founded National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day
National Coming Out Day is an internationally observed civil awareness day celebrating individuals who publicly identify as bisexual, gay, lesbian, transgender—coming out regarding one's sexual orientation and/or gender identity being akin to a cultural rite of passage for LGBT people...
with Rob Eichberg in 1987.
She died in San Clemente, California
San Clemente, California
San Clemente is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 63,522 at the 2010 census. Located on the California Coast, midway between Los Angeles and San Diego at the southern tip of the county, it is known for its ocean, hill, and mountain views, a pleasant climate and its Spanish...
of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, aged 57. She was survived by her partner Lisa Phelps, their daughter Victoria, their son David de Maria, his life partner James Springer, and David and James' son Aiden de Maria.