Gay helpline pioneer Rose Robertson has passed.
November 7, 2011 4:42 PM Subscribe
Before the Second World War, Rose Robertson did secretarial work. During the war, as part of her work for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the UK, Robertson parachuted into occupied France to spy on German troop deployments and act as a courier. Her acquaintance there with a gay couple in the French Resistance, and, after the war, friendship with gay lodgers, led her to found Parents Enquiry, Britain's first helpline to support parents and their lesbian, gay and bisexual children, an organization which she operated for many years.
Her work anticipated that of Friends and Families of Lesbians And Gays (FFLAG) and Parents, Friends (& Family) of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG). She has just passed at 94.
Her work anticipated that of Friends and Families of Lesbians And Gays (FFLAG) and Parents, Friends (& Family) of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG). She has just passed at 94.
Hard to make a . as big as her heart.
posted by mykescipark at 4:49 PM on November 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by mykescipark at 4:49 PM on November 7, 2011 [4 favorites]
A great British hero I'd never heard of before.
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/salutes
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2011
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/salutes
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2011
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Now there's someone who truly left the world better than she found it. Every day Fred Phelps outlives her is a sad day.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2011
Now there's someone who truly left the world better than she found it. Every day Fred Phelps outlives her is a sad day.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2011
Wow, she remained completely cool for her entire life. Very few people end up being on the right side of everything.
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posted by bearwife at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011 [13 favorites]
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posted by bearwife at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011 [13 favorites]
I had never heard of her, but what a fantastic person. Thanks for the post.
posted by maxwelton at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011
posted by maxwelton at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011
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posted by lumpenprole at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011
posted by lumpenprole at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011
Awesome Rose! I, too, had never heard of her. What a fascinating woman.
And now I also want to know much more about that gay couple in the French Resistance. There's a decent movie in there, somewhere...
posted by darkstar at 5:28 PM on November 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
And now I also want to know much more about that gay couple in the French Resistance. There's a decent movie in there, somewhere...
posted by darkstar at 5:28 PM on November 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's always nice to know people like her existed.
posted by Red Loop at 6:06 PM on November 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Red Loop at 6:06 PM on November 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
. Thanks for sharing this. I did not know of her or her story. What a great lady!
posted by pointystick at 6:56 PM on November 7, 2011
posted by pointystick at 6:56 PM on November 7, 2011
Wow, what an inspirational woman! If I show a tenth of the courage and goodness she has shown in her life, I'll be happy with my life.
posted by Kattullus at 7:21 PM on November 7, 2011
posted by Kattullus at 7:21 PM on November 7, 2011
I just learned about you tonight, Rose. I don't know what else to say at the moment but Thank You.
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posted by treepour at 7:44 PM on November 7, 2011
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posted by treepour at 7:44 PM on November 7, 2011
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posted by yellowcandy at 9:48 PM on November 7, 2011
posted by yellowcandy at 9:48 PM on November 7, 2011
Thank you for leaving the world a better place for your having been here, dear Rose. Your contribution is appreciated, and appreciable for ever.
posted by taff at 3:29 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by taff at 3:29 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Here's hoping that some of the kids that may grow up being bullied under Michigan's idiotic, despicable new law will end up being civil rights legends like this woman.
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posted by Aizkolari at 3:50 AM on November 8, 2011
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posted by Aizkolari at 3:50 AM on November 8, 2011
It's always striking to read about people who are tough as nails acting for the sake of people less fortunate than themselves. It's a striking contrast to those who use their positions of strength to further themselves without regard to others.
I'm glad Rose was here and did what she did, and also that she could see so much positive change in the world at large during her lifetime. If the state of LGBT rights looks poor now, it has recently been much worse.
> Michigan's idiotic, despicable new law
Fortunately it currently is only a bill and not a law. It is still being debated and may be voted away.
posted by ardgedee at 5:44 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm glad Rose was here and did what she did, and also that she could see so much positive change in the world at large during her lifetime. If the state of LGBT rights looks poor now, it has recently been much worse.
> Michigan's idiotic, despicable new law
Fortunately it currently is only a bill and not a law. It is still being debated and may be voted away.
posted by ardgedee at 5:44 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Someone like this makes me want to paraphrase a popular gay slogan and use it as self-instruction:
It Gets Better!
Because seriously, reading this is one of those "hey you, yeah you over there, why don't you try to be 1/1000th as bad ass as this. For like a week or two at least."
I can't imagine what my life would be like without people like Rose having existed first.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:22 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Because seriously, reading this is one of those "hey you, yeah you over there, why don't you try to be 1/1000th as bad ass as this. For like a week or two at least."
I can't imagine what my life would be like without people like Rose having existed first.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:22 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by brundlefly at 4:48 PM on November 7, 2011