Rev. Anthony Turney, champion of arts and gay rights, dies

[theHandpuppet]

SFGate
Rev. Anthony Turney, champion of arts and gay rights, dies
Bojan Srbinovski
Friday, July 11, 2014

The Rev. Anthony Turney, archdeacon of the arts at Grace Cathedral and former head of the Names Project - the custodian organization of the AIDS Memorial Quilt - died of cancer in San Francisco on July 4, the 38th anniversary of his becoming a U.S. citizen.

The Rev. Turney, a native of Great Britain, was a longtime advocate for social justice and the arts. His career included a stint as deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and director of administration at the San Francisco Opera. He was a devoted part of Grace Cathedral for almost two decades.

David Perry, who met the Rev. Turney in 1984, remembers hearing his "blooming English accent" for the first time as the elevator doors opened on his first day of work at the NEA. The Rev. Turney would become Perry's friend, mentor and role model. He would also officiate the wedding of Perry to his husband, Alfredo Casuso. The couple took care of the Rev. Turney in the last two years, and as his health deteriorated, they had him move in with them.

"He was one of the most courageous people I know," Perry said. "He was openly gay before it was safe and wise to be openly gay. He was out in his professional life in D.C., and when he joined the church. When he became an ordained person, he had no patience for hypocrisy, yet his kindness and intellect were present in equal terms."

MORE at http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Rev-Anthony-Turney-champion-of-arts-and-gay-5616300.php

[NuclearDem]

1. He will be missed.

[shenmue]

2. Rest in peace

[littlemissmartypants]

3. Condolences and Peace.

Thank you Reverend Turney for all of your compassionate earthly work.