- A photograph of Jennifer Gale is shown lying on the ground at a memorial service following her death. The broom symbolized her being swept off the streets of Austin. The service was held at the Homeless Memorial and Tree of Remembrance on the shore of Lady Bird Lake.
Two years ago tomorrow, homeless transgender woman Jennifer Gale died on the streets of Austin — from a heart attack likely caused in part by the extreme cold. Gale was a perennial political candidate who ran for Dallas mayor in 2007. She slept on the streets because the only shelter for women in Austin, run by the Salvation Army, wouldn’t house her according to her gender identity, which would have forced her to sleep and shower with men. Gale’s death prompted changes in Dallas, where the city’s homeless shelter, the Bridge, subsequently adopted a policy under which it houses people according to their gender identity. Gale was an activist and a regular speaker at City Council meetings in Austin, where she also ran for office. On the eve of her death, she stood before a City Council committee and sang “Silent Night.” This morning, the Austin City Council honored Gale by playing video of the rendition. Watch by going here and fast-forwarding to the 1:20 mark.
Thanks for sharing this video! Just another sad reminder that sometimes we need to take care of our own people when those from outside refuse to assist.
The bigots at the SA forget their lord’s words when he said “What you do to the least of you, you do to me.”
The SA shelters needs to be put out of business, and be taken over by a faith community which is more accepting of LGBT folk.
May the LORD Bless and Keep Jennifer Gale close. Mariene is so right about what Jesus said. I haven’t given a dime to the Salvation Hypocrites until they repent of THEIR sins and change their policies. No room at the Inn for Jennifer Gale. What is so depressing is that she died on the steps of a local Austin church. Now, she was probably mentally unstable – or at least different – quite apart from being transgendered. She could have contacted the local MCC church, or other LGBTQ resources in Austin. But she was also a proud person, apparently. It is so sad that she died. I never liked her socialist politics, but this goes way beyond that to helping our fellow human being. I now never pass a bum on the street with a sign looking for a handout and don’t give them a dollar. The LORD says give, and give joyously. What’s a dollar to you? GIVE of your heart, and forgive those who sin and tresspass against you – just as GOD will forgive you of your sins and tresspasses. Pay it forward. And remember: Jesus hung out with women, sinners, and outcasts for very good reasons.
We have lost yet another beautiful person because of the bigotry and intolerance of others. But we are changing the world through our lives and our deaths.
The days of intolerance and bigotry are numbered.
Here in California we have had equal rights for six years now and I have seen first-hand the changes.
Prior to legal equality we were discarded in a blunt direct manner. During job interviews I actually was told (and I quote) “we do not hire your kind here”. I was called a “clown” a “freak” told to cut my hair. DURING JOB INTERVIEWS. Now I still need to apply to a magnitude more jobs than a normal person would (I know this based on how many jobs I used to apply for as a person pretending to be normal). However the difference is that today some companies DO say “yes” to hiring us as the new legal status brought positive attention to our plight and the reasons why we needed to be included. Things are changing.
Here in Southern California donations to homeless have skyrocketed and yet at the same time the local news showed a report of Salvation Army workers in tears near empty warehouses on the same news show that shows ABC breaking records with filling buses of toys. People are waking up to the hypocrisy of discrimination.
We are out in public more and more. Those of us who have jobs win over the rest of our coworkers. Those who do not have jobs show our plight and break the hearts of those who hate us.
We are here and we are not going away. When we do, we are just one more martyr for the cause of equality for EVERYONE. We are the reminders that the US has never lived up to the Bill of Rights which claims that “All men are created equal”. We are living proof of the hypocrisy and our lives burn in the hearts of the bigoted haters of this world.
Jennifer Gale put another face on the genocide against Transgender people in the US. Jennifer Gale gave everything so that the rest of us have the chance for a better life. Some of us still have work to do. We each do our part. Whether we are employed, homeless or indigent we are each an ambassador of the Transgender community. We will make our presence known by our stories of success in the face of adversity. Our sisters like Jennifer Gale are what make our struggle so worthwhile. Many of us are tired of the fight, we want to give up and leave the world of persecution. But we see how it diminishes us to lose a sister and we remember that our lives are all connected. We are all united fighting for the same right to exist and to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Our fight will not always be in vain. Our rights will come. I have seen the difference between equality and no rights. And although discrimination will continue long after our equality is secured, it will diminish greatly. We will not be sub-citizens forever and our voices are being heard, even in our passing.
Jennifer’s life is another glorious story of strength and beauty. For only a wonderful person can persist in the face of such adversity. May she be at rest and peace. She remains in my heart always.
R.I.P. Jennifer
Salvation Army will be judged by a higher authority.
We who survive will continue to educate others. Pass by the red kettle. Do not the judge ringing the bell. just don’t support the red kettle. there are so many other supporting organizations. Go find them and support them…
It’s difficult to see he Austin City Council’s mourning as anything other than shedding crocodile tears, while they refuse to stop the same thing from happening again. The Salvation Army’s Austin shelter maintains the same policy it always did, while accepting public funds.
The best memorial Jennifer Gale could get is not a plaque, but action in her name.