Charlene Strong
Encyclopedia
Charlene D. Strong is an American gay rights activist.
Since the death of her partner, Kate Fleming
, Strong has become an advocate for marriage equality and legal protections for LGBT
families.
In January 2007, she testified before the Washington State Senate
in support of a bill creating a statewide Domestic Partnership Registry. In April 2007, she stood beside Governor Christine Gregoire
as that domestic partnership bill was signed into law. The Governor opened her remarks by retelling Strong's story. In February 2009, Governor Gregoire appointed Strong to the Washington State Human Rights Commission. Strong's term expires in 2012.
Strong is also a co-producer of the film For My Wife, which tells the story of Kate Fleming's death. The film won the Best Documentary prize at the 2008 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She works closely with Equal Rights Washington, and has established an internship at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, DC.
, basement recording studio during the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm
. Arriving at the hospital, Strong was initially prevented from joining Fleming, despite their long partnership, because Washington State did not recognize domestic partners.
Since the death of her partner, Kate Fleming
Kate Fleming
Kathryn Ann "Kate" Fleming was an American award-winning audio book narrator and producer.She was the owner and executive producer at Cedar House Audio, an audio production company specializing in spoken word that is located in Seattle, Washington, United States...
, Strong has become an advocate for marriage equality and legal protections for LGBT
LGBT
LGBT is an initialism that collectively refers to "lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender" people. In use since the 1990s, the term "LGBT" is an adaptation of the initialism "LGB", which itself started replacing the phrase "gay community" beginning in the mid-to-late 1980s, which many within the...
families.
In January 2007, she testified before the Washington State Senate
Washington State Legislature
The Washington State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of Washington. It is a bipartisan, bicameral body, composed of the lower Washington House of Representatives, composed of 98 Representatives, and the upper Washington State Senate, with 49 Senators.The State Legislature...
in support of a bill creating a statewide Domestic Partnership Registry. In April 2007, she stood beside Governor Christine Gregoire
Christine Gregoire
Christine O'Grady "Chris" Gregoire is the 22nd and current Governor of the state of Washington, and a member of the Democratic Party. Gregoire defeated Republican candidate Dino Rossi in 2004, and again in 2008. She is the second female governor of Washington...
as that domestic partnership bill was signed into law. The Governor opened her remarks by retelling Strong's story. In February 2009, Governor Gregoire appointed Strong to the Washington State Human Rights Commission. Strong's term expires in 2012.
Strong is also a co-producer of the film For My Wife, which tells the story of Kate Fleming's death. The film won the Best Documentary prize at the 2008 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. She works closely with Equal Rights Washington, and has established an internship at the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington, DC.
Kate Fleming
Strong's partner of nine years, Kate Fleming, died in 2006 when a flash flood trapped her inside her Madison Valley, SeattleMadison Valley, Seattle, Washington
Madison Valley is a neighborhood in Seattle located east of Capitol Hill; west of Washington Park; south of Montlake; and north of the Central District.The valley is centered on the corner of E. Madison Street and Martin Luther King Jr...
, basement recording studio during the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm
Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006
The Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm of 2006 was a powerful Pacific storm that slammed into the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and southern British Columbia, Canada between December 14, 2006 and December 15, 2006...
. Arriving at the hospital, Strong was initially prevented from joining Fleming, despite their long partnership, because Washington State did not recognize domestic partners.
External links
- Add your voice to the chorus calling for equality and dignity, op-ed by Charlene Strong, Seattle Times, August 9, 2007
- In tragedy's wake, an unlikely activist is born, Seattle Gay News, November 16, 2007
- "For My Wife" movie trailer