Alexander John Goodrum
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transArizona Daily Star, October 1, 2002
P. O. Box 26887, Tucson, AZ, 85726
(Fax: 602-573-4141 ) (E-Mail: letters@azstarnet.com )
( http://www.azstarnet.com/ )
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/21001GOODRUMOBIT.html
[*** There is a photo on this site. ***]
Activist Goodrum dies at 41
By L. Anne Newell, Arizona Daily Star
Alexander John Goodrum, an internationally known activist who labored tirelessly for social change and founded a local transgender resource center, died Saturday.
Goodrum had battled depression throughout his life, friends and colleagues said, and hanged himself at a Tucson mental health treatment facility just days before his 42nd birthday.
The death shocked friends and colleagues, who remembered Goodrum as a courageous and valiant visionary who fought intolerance, especially that faced by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Goodrum, who'd lived in Tucson since 1996, created TGNet Arizona, a transgender resource and advocacy group, and was its director.
"What an incredible activist he's been in the trans community and just a prominent figure in the whole GLBT community," said Kathy Altman, board chair of Wingspan, a local GLBT resource center. "We'll miss him
dreadfully."
Kent Burbank, Wingspan executive director, said: "It's such a tragedy on a personal level and a horrible loss on the community level. Tucson is so fortunate to have had him here."
Goodrum was born in October 1960 in Chicago and became an activist about 1980, spreading the message in Chicago and San Francisco before moving to Tucson. He published numerous papers on gender issues, including "Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer."
In addition to TGNet, Goodrum was a member of the city's GLBT Commission, active in the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance and a former boar d member at Wingspan as well as being involved with Arizona's GLBT chorus and numerous other organizations.
Goodrum had been involved in many projects, colleagues said, the latest of which reached fruition in August. The Arizona Transgender Workplace Project was designed to teach business leaders how to make their workplaces more accepting of transgender people. The first class was in August and more were scheduled for November. Kevin Maxey, president of the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, recalled how Goodrum's efforts stretched internationally, including being the keynote speaker at the 2002 True Spirit Conference - a transgender event - in Washington, D.C.
"Alexander was involved in so many things and was so eloquent, so articulate and could bring the message to so many people," Maxey said. "What a warm and loving person he was. What a good friend he was."
C. Michael Woodward, a friend and TGNet Arizona advisory member, said he received e-mails from across the country about Goodrum's death. He remembered Goodrum as full of passion with much to offer.
"I don't think we'll ever know all the lives he touched," Woodward said. "He was just so big for such a little guy. He made so many wonderful impacts on the city of Tucson."
Some questioned who will continue Goodrum's work. "He leaves a hole that is going to be very, very difficult to fill," Burbank said. "The type of work he was doing, no one else is doing here in town and while I hope that our community can continue his work, it's not going to be easy."
Goodrum is survived by his mother, Patsy Brown of Las Vegas; sisters Meda Robinson of Chicago and Alicia Golden of Bellwood, Ill.; brother Walter P. Goodrum, Jr. of Las Vegas; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Stone Avenue Temple, 564 S. Stone Ave. Donations may be sent to TGNet Arizona, 300 E. Sixth St., Tucson, AZ 85705.
Contact reporter L. Anne Newell at 629-9412 or at
lnewell@azstarnet.com.
P. O. Box 26887, Tucson, AZ, 85726
(Fax: 602-573-4141 ) (E-Mail: letters@azstarnet.com )
( http://www.azstarnet.com/ )
http://www.azstarnet.com/star/today/21001GOODRUMOBIT.html
[*** There is a photo on this site. ***]
Activist Goodrum dies at 41
By L. Anne Newell, Arizona Daily Star
Alexander John Goodrum, an internationally known activist who labored tirelessly for social change and founded a local transgender resource center, died Saturday.
Goodrum had battled depression throughout his life, friends and colleagues said, and hanged himself at a Tucson mental health treatment facility just days before his 42nd birthday.
The death shocked friends and colleagues, who remembered Goodrum as a courageous and valiant visionary who fought intolerance, especially that faced by the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community. Goodrum, who'd lived in Tucson since 1996, created TGNet Arizona, a transgender resource and advocacy group, and was its director.
"What an incredible activist he's been in the trans community and just a prominent figure in the whole GLBT community," said Kathy Altman, board chair of Wingspan, a local GLBT resource center. "We'll miss him
dreadfully."
Kent Burbank, Wingspan executive director, said: "It's such a tragedy on a personal level and a horrible loss on the community level. Tucson is so fortunate to have had him here."
Goodrum was born in October 1960 in Chicago and became an activist about 1980, spreading the message in Chicago and San Francisco before moving to Tucson. He published numerous papers on gender issues, including "Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer."
In addition to TGNet, Goodrum was a member of the city's GLBT Commission, active in the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance and a former boar d member at Wingspan as well as being involved with Arizona's GLBT chorus and numerous other organizations.
Goodrum had been involved in many projects, colleagues said, the latest of which reached fruition in August. The Arizona Transgender Workplace Project was designed to teach business leaders how to make their workplaces more accepting of transgender people. The first class was in August and more were scheduled for November. Kevin Maxey, president of the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance, recalled how Goodrum's efforts stretched internationally, including being the keynote speaker at the 2002 True Spirit Conference - a transgender event - in Washington, D.C.
"Alexander was involved in so many things and was so eloquent, so articulate and could bring the message to so many people," Maxey said. "What a warm and loving person he was. What a good friend he was."
C. Michael Woodward, a friend and TGNet Arizona advisory member, said he received e-mails from across the country about Goodrum's death. He remembered Goodrum as full of passion with much to offer.
"I don't think we'll ever know all the lives he touched," Woodward said. "He was just so big for such a little guy. He made so many wonderful impacts on the city of Tucson."
Some questioned who will continue Goodrum's work. "He leaves a hole that is going to be very, very difficult to fill," Burbank said. "The type of work he was doing, no one else is doing here in town and while I hope that our community can continue his work, it's not going to be easy."
Goodrum is survived by his mother, Patsy Brown of Las Vegas; sisters Meda Robinson of Chicago and Alicia Golden of Bellwood, Ill.; brother Walter P. Goodrum, Jr. of Las Vegas; as well as numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Stone Avenue Temple, 564 S. Stone Ave. Donations may be sent to TGNet Arizona, 300 E. Sixth St., Tucson, AZ 85705.
Contact reporter L. Anne Newell at 629-9412 or at
lnewell@azstarnet.com.