Stonewall Democrats Remember Life of Activist Bob Hattoy
Stonewall Democrats Remember Life of Activist Bob Hattoy
Openly-Gay Democrat Worked to Improve Party and Politicians
Monday, March 5, 2007
Washington, DC – Today, the National Stonewall Democrats released the following statement on the life of long-time Democratic activist Bob Hattoy:
Bob Hattoy was a friend of Democrats across the country, a personal mentor to our staff and local chapters, and a leader in national politics. Bob was a visionary whose work pushed forward the politics of the environment, HIV/AIDS and the equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans.
Bob wasn’t afraid to champion the Democratic Party, and to do so loudly. But, just as he unequivocally championed Democrats, he also unapologetically challenged them. Bob needled our politicians, pressed his friends in positions of power, and picked up the Democratic Party in order to kick it forward whenever it fell down on its promise to fully support LGBT Americans.
Bob was more eager to partner with politicians than to simply praise them. He realized that partnership demands more than political photo-ops, appointments and speeches applauded behind closed doors. It demands results. Anything short of supporting full equality for LGBT families was a positive step to Bob, but it was still a promise to be fulfilled.
National Stonewall Democrats was thrilled to call Bob Hattoy our friend, and we are proud to call him a model for those of us working at the intersection of LGBT and Democratic Politics. We share his passion for partisan politics, for the potential of the Democratic Party and for the need to hold even our closest friends accountable.
- Jo Wyrick, Executive Director
Bob Hattoy died over the weekend in Sacramento. Bob first rose to prominence in 1992 as the first openly-gay person ever to address the national convention of a political party. Speaking from the podium at the Democratic National Convention in New York City, Bob moved the country by speaking of his diagnosis as an HIV-positive individual.
Hattoy served as a political appointee in both Clinton Administrations. In the first Clinton Administration, Bob Hattoy was reassigned to the Department of the Interior from a prominent position in the White House shortly after he publicly criticized President Clinton for the newly adopted “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Don’t Pursue” policy regarding gay members of the military. Continuing his personal friendships with the Clinton family, Hattoy proudly accepted his reassignment and never stopped speaking out on issues important to the LGBT community.
Apart from his national political appointments, Bob Hattoy served as a consultant to numerous political campaigns, as an environmental activist and as a delegate to several Democratic National Conventions. He was also an active member of the National Stonewall Democrats.
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National Stonewall Democrats is the only national organization of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Democrats, with more than 90 local chapters across the nation. NSD is committed to working through the Democratic Party to advance the rights of all people regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
