WATCH: Civil Rights Icon and Gay Ally Dorothy Height Dies at 98

Civil rights icon Dr. Dorothy Height, who was the leading female voice of the 1950 and 1960s civil rights movement and stood on the platform with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during his historic "I Have a Dream'' speech, died in Washington DC today.  She was 98.

The New York Times:

"Height, whose activism on behalf of women and minorities dated to the New Deal, led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years. She continued actively speaking out into her 90s, often getting rousing ovations at events around Washington, where she was immediately recognized by the bright, colorful hats she almost always wore. She died at Howard University Hospital, where she had been in serious condition for weeks. In a statement, President Barack Obama called her ''the godmother of the civil rights movement'' and a hero to Americans. "Dr. Height devoted her life to those struggling for equality ... and served as the only woman at the highest level of the Civil Rights Movement -- witnessing every march and milestone along the way,'" Obama said."

The newspaper continues:"'One of Height's sayings was, 'If the time is not ripe, we have to ripen the time.'  She liked to quote 19th century abolitionist Frederick Douglass, who said that the three effective ways to fight for justice are to ''agitate, agitate, agitate.'"

Height counseled Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and  Lyndon B.  Johnson on critical civil rights issues. Height also "walked in lockstep with first lady Eleanor Roosevelt" to push vital changes for women's rights, reports The Root. 

Height also lended her influence to push for gay rights, adds LGBT POV's Karen Ocamb.

"Height and her friend Coretta Scott King, widow of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, were among those LGBT allies who worked the halls of Congress in 1996 with Elizabeth Birch, then-president of the Human Rights Campaign, when the Employment Non-Discrimination Act faced its first vote on the Senate floor. Vice President Al Gore was on standby to cast the deciding vote if necessary – but the Senate rejected ENDA 50-49."

While speaking at the 1997 Human Rights Campaign Annual Dinner, Dr. Height applauded the LGBT rights movement. "There is one thing that we will agree [on]. Civil rights are civil rights. There is no person that is not entitled to their civil rights" she said, adding that "it wasn't hard for us to know" that HRC and gay rights were "about civil rights."

HRC Deputy Director for Diversity Donna Payne adds: "Dr. Height taught us to reach out to others, and to get the conversations going. That’s how you win people’s hearts, which is what it takes to make justice happen."

This was the second death of a major civil rights figure in less than one week. Benjamin L. Hooks, the former longtime head of the NAACP, passed Thursday in Memphis at 85.

Watch the HRC video, as well as a news report and Michelle Obama on this amazing woman AFTER THE JUMP ...

 

Photos: Washington Post's Dorothy height slideshow.

Comments

[Isis]

Rest in Peace Dorothy! I wont be sad because she had a GREAT Ride! 98 years is s Blessing and she used those years to bring about CHANGE! I celebrate her!

[FREELEO]

Well done mother. Go and rest now. Bless you.

[Account Deleted]

What I find funny is that there a lot of Black activists of the PAST and present that have always supported LGBT equality for the longest time before the nonsense of "Gay rights are not civil rights" BS that the straights claimed came about and yet their accomplisments are downplayed, trivialized and are simply a mere footnote.

Heck, watching Disney's The Emperor's New Groove, I found out the actress that played Yzma, the villain, was played by a woman by the name of Eartha Kitt and she also SUPPORTED LGBT rights as well! She died 08 of December, sadly. Why are these types of people never mentioned in Black communities? Or better, why are they hidden.

If I had known about people like Dorothy Height, MLK's wife and Eartha Kitt, Baldwin and OTHERS before I became negative about the homophobia in the Black community and Black people in general, I probably would've never gotten into those emotional tirades during Prop 8 and in general.

[Ron]

Dorothy Height was an extraordinary champion of civil rights and certainly one of my sheroes. I texted a friend about her passing today and he responded back "Who is Dorothy Height?" We have to do better in terms of instilling our rich legacy in our youth and obviously some of our grown adults. I'm 32 and he's 28 so there's no reason he shouldn't have known who this woman was. Its more than just Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm X. We have heros and sheroes across the world who have contributed amazing things. I always admired Ms. Height and had the opportunity to meet her once at the University of MD. It is women like Ms. Height which made me cry for about 20 minutes when I got into my car after voting for Barack Obama president. It wasn't for Barack, but it was for all of the blood, sweat, and tears that were shed, and lives lost so that I could have an opportunity to be able to vote for a Black man as president in 2008. God Bless You Ms. Height. You've worked hard and are now deserving of an eternal, peaceful rest.

[FREELEO]

@Kevin P.
i'm glad you are seeing a different side of the black community. a lot of our older brothers and sisters are not as judgmental as one might believe. they've seen too much to care. older blacks in hollywood and those involved in civil rights were often more accepting of lgbt people. lena horne, carmen mcrae, billie holiday, billy strayhorn and far too many to name didn't care about a person's sexuality. even today; a lot of young actors don't care either. they just aren't as vocal in their stand against homophobia.

and to Ron. one has to be interested enough in our history to seek out some of our forgotten pioneers. there are lots of interesting stories about many of our ancestors and how they behaved and who they loved in their youth. people were carrying on during the harlem renaissance and also on the gospel circuit that existed back in the day.

[MW09]

What an absolutely incredible woman! May she rest in peace! She leaves behind an indelible legacy that will not be forgotten!

[DWJazzlover]

Beautiful Woman, Beautiful Soul, She will be remembered with much love..

[Brien]

A stalwart of a woman. Her voice will be sorely missed.

[Honut Sinti]

Dr. Height was such a blessing. Her time on this earth will always be remembered as many of us will continue to benefit from her contributions.