Obituary: Randal 'Randy' Forrester

Dec. 13, 1947 - April 23, 2008

Randal "Randy" Forrester, a leading gay rights activist in Pittsburgh, died April 23 of cancer. He was 60.

In 1969 he founded the now-defunct Western Pennsylvania Mattachine, believed to be the region's first gay rights organization. In 1972, Forrester co-founded the Persad Centera - a counseling center for sexual minorities -- with James Huggins, his life partner of 37 years.. He retired as the center's executive director in 2001, and in 2006 the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, honored him as the "Civil Libertarian of the Year" in 2006. He was also named one of the city's 100 most influential residents of the 20th century by Pittsburgh Magazine.

A celebration of Randy Forrester’s life was held May 4 at The Priory on the North Side.

At the celebration, Dr. Tony Silvestre of the Pitt Men's Study, — the AIDS research project that Mr. Forrester helped to launch ­-- said that Mr. Forrester's pioneering work for gay rights was courageous, occurring as it did at a time it was very risky to do so.

"He stepped out loudly and never quieted down for his whole career," said Silvestre. "I think it took incredible courage, incredible determination and great compassion. I have no doubt he has had a profound, positive effect on thousands of people if not tens of thousands of people. He was a true hero."