The passing of Ted Kennedy, a relentless advocate for the rights of LGBT people and children

On Tuesday, we lost "a lion" for our cause, a man who was an early and active supporter of LGBT people everywhere. He understood that our struggle was a continuation of the civil rights movement and the notion that no one is free until all people are free. Moreover, having acted as the mentor for his brothers' fatherless children, he knew the importance of investing in the welfare of children, including expanded medical care, improved educational funding and standards, and wide-scale immigration reform. While he came from one of the most privileged families in America, he worked tirelessly for the poor and middle class causes, all the way until his death. He truly cared about people, including the LGBT and our families.

He accomplished all these great things despite the fact that he was a notorious substance-abuser (alcohol and, reportedly, drugs like cocaine) and womanizer, which he admitted and, later in life, took responsibility for. He paid for his sins through the loss of the Democratic presidential nomination in 1980, the destruction of his first marriage, and intense personal suffering.

Despite these character defects, he became one of the greatest senators in history and an fierce advocate for LGBT families. Listen to him one last time: http://bit.ly/4D47lq and bit.ly/41oNZu He made America a better country. I will miss him.