LGBT rights groups on Thursday joined
millions around the world in mourning the passing of Nelson Mandela,
South Africa's first black president who is credited with ending
apartheid.
The 95-year-old Mandela died at his
home in Johannesburg following a long illness.
“Nelson Mandela is an inspiration to
millions around the globe and a personal hero to me,” said Wilson
Cruz, national spokesman for GLAAD. “He overcame hardship and
discrimination to craft the first constitution that recognized the
dignity and humanity of all people, including LGBT people. We will
continue to learn and grow from his legacy, even as we mourn his
passing and honor his memory.”
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the
nation's largest LGBT rights advocate, said in a press release that
Mandela “always walked arm-in-arm with his LGBT brothers and
sisters … toward freedom.”
“Though every man, woman and child
who seeks justice around the world mourns this loss, his vision of an
equal future lives on undimmed,” HRC said. “Mandela, who was
South Africa’s first post-Apartheid president, was an outspoken
advocate for LGBT equality. He appointed an openly-gay judge to
South Africa's High Court of Appeal and during his presidency, South
Africa became the first nation in the world to constitutionally
prohibit sexual orientation-based discrimination. Mandela will be
remembered for his social justice activism and commitment to equality
for all people.”
Mandela is survived by his second wife,
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, three daughters, 17 grandchildren and 13
great-grandchildren.