Rep. Millender-McDonald Passes

Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald (D-CA), who recently took leave from Congress after being diagnosed with cancer, passed on Sunday.

Millender-McDonald was in her sixth full term representing the heavily Southern California's heavily Democratic 37th District, which includes Compton, Long Beach and parts of Los Angeles. This year, she became chair of the powerful Committee on House Administration, which oversees operations of the House and federal election procedures. Rep. Millender-McDonald became the very first black representative to chair that committee.

Rod 2.0 readers will recall that Juanita Millender-McDonald advocated new legislation to fight HIV/AIDS in the black community, and, later expressed interest in finding solutions to also fight black-on-black homophobia.

Juanita Millender-McDonald is survived by her husband, James McDonald Jr.; five children; and five grandchildren. She was 68 years old.

Rep. Millender-McDonald [The Hill]

Some Background ...

Report: Ending Black Homophobia Will Reduce HIV [R20]