FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Stonewall DFL Honors the Life of Allan H. Spear
(Saint Paul, MN) October 12, 2008 – Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and
Transgender community throughout the State of Minnesota are called to remember
the life of former State Senator, Allan Spear who passed away on Saturday night
at the age of 71 from complications following heart surgery on Thursday. Spear
served as a state Senate president in the Minnesota Legislature for nearly 30
years and is noted as one of the state’s first openly gay politicians.
“The influence of Senator Spear can be seen throughout the State of Minnesota
and will live on as LGBT leaders continue our fight for equality,” said Del
Jenkins, Stonewall DFL Chair. “We mourn his passing and offer our condolences to
his family and those in the community that knew him.”
In the April of each year, Stonewall has presented the Allan Spear Award to the
political leaders of tomorrow in recognition of the Senator’s lasting influence
on LGBT politics in Minnesota.
As an officially chartered caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of
Minnesota, Stonewall DFL is Minnesota’s first political organization of gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Visit stonewalldfl.org for more
information.