This week, William B. Kelley, 72, who in 2015 was marking 50 years as a gay activist, passed away peacefully in his sleep. There were very few LGBT Chicago activists who stayed as consistently engaged in community activism as Kelley, from early work with the Mattachine Midwest chapter, the earliest marches for gay rights and the first White House gay-rights meeting in 1977 to emails earlier on the morning of his passing.
Visitation will be Wed., May 20, 3-9 p.m. Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western Ave. On Thursday, visitation will be at the same location 9 a.m., with procession to Wunder Cemetery, 3963 N Clark St, Chicago at noon.
Obituary, responses from community members and friends, and photos from Kelley’s life were published May 17, 2015, at the link: windycitytimes.com/lgbt/PASSAGES-Longtime-gay-activist-William-B-Kelley-dies/51482.html.