Gwen Hall
American activist (1951–2007)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gwen Hall (May 7, 1951 – August 24, 2007) was an American activist, community organizer, and a minister in the Unity Church. She founded Sojourner Truth Ministries in Seattle in 1995.
Gwen Hall | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 7, 1951 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | August 24, 2007 (aged 56) Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
| Occupations | Minister, activist, community organizer |
Early life and education
Hall was born in Chicago.[1] She graduated from the University of Washington in 1979, with a degree in political science,[1] and earned a master's degree at Seattle University's School of Theology and Ministry.[2]
Career
Hall was a Seattle Pride organizer beginning in the 1970s,[1] and a member of Seattle's Black Lesbian Forum. She was an advertising representative for Seattle Gay News.[3] She co-chaired Marches on Washington for gay rights in 1979 and 1993, and was a fundraiser for the protest in other years.[3] She taught life skills workshops,[4] and she spoke on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Black communities.[5] In 1995, Hall founded the Sojourner Truth Unity Fellowship Church (also known as Sojourner Truth Ministries) on Beacon Hill in Seattle. She said of her work, "I made a commitment, a personal commitment, to do my part so that no one would ever die feeling that God didn't love them."[2] In 2003 she was the first openly gay person to give the opening prayer at Seattle's Martin Luther King Jr. Day event.[6][7]
Personal life and legacy
Hall was married and divorced as a young woman, and had a son. She came out as a lesbian, and had a longtime relationship with Trina Banks.[8] Rev. Hall also had three grandchildren. She died from heart failure in 2007, at the age of 56.[9][10] The Reverend Gwen Hall and Lois Peterson Scholarship supports college-bound high school seniors in the American Northwest, including Alaska, who are leaders in the LGBTQ community and have demonstrated financial need.[11]