Earl Welther, a gay-rights advocate who founded Midwest Men’s Center of Chicago, Inc., died Sept. 3. He was 67.
Welther was born May 22, 1942 in Chicago, and attended Wright Junior College 1960-62, according to his profile on LinkedIn.com.
In 1979, he was part of the Chicago Men’s Gathering, a pro-feminist, gay-affirmative men’s group. In 1982, Welther joined the protest of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Boston, Mass., when it started prohibiting gays and lesbians from teaching or even being members. In the late 1980s, he started Midwest Men’s Center of Chicago, Inc., an umbrella organization that included Men Nurturing Men and, later, Windy City Gay Naturists, a group that provided social opportunities for nudists.
In 1991, Welther joined St. Peter’s Episcopal Church and became involved in Integrity, the Church’s gay/lesbian support group. He was also the editor of the church’s newsletter, The Net, and a board/vestry member.
Welther’s breadth of activism on behalf of the LGBT community led to him being nominated for the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame last year. One endorser, the Very Rev. James H. Dunkerley (the retired rector of St. Peter’s), stated, “I have known Earl for the early [’80s] and have found his openness and support of the Gay and Lesbian community from day one, as both [courageous] and daunting.”
Memorial Mass Services for Earl Welther will be held Sat., Oct. 10 at 3 p.m. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 621 W. Belmont Ave., 773-525-0844. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made for Earl’s funeral expenses, made payable and sent to Robert Welther at 4722 W. Berteau Ave., Chicago, IL 60641 or sent to St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with the memo: for Earl Welther’s funeral expenses.