Alexander John Goodrum Explained

Alexander John Goodrum
Birth Date:	1960
Death Date:	September 28, 2002
Death Place:	Tucson, Arizona
Occupation:	activist, writer, and educator

Alexander John Goodrum (1960–2002) was an African-American transgender civil rights activist, writer, and educator.^{[1] [2]} He was the founder and director of TGNet Arizona.^[3] He was a board member of the Tucson GLBT Commission,^[4] and the Funding Exchange's OUT Fund, which allocates an annual grant named after Goodrum to LGBT community organizing projects such as the Latina lesbian magazine, Esto no tiene nombre, edited in part by Tatiana de la tierra.^[5]

Goodrum was bisexual, disabled, and a trans man, he wrote about his gender influencing spirituality.^{[6] [7]} His book, "Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer" has been reprinted in various forms to educate mainstream society on basic questions regarding transsexual and transgender people.^[8] His work is carried on by the Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA).^{[9] [10]}

Death

Goodrum died by suicide on September 28, 2002, while at La Frontera Psychiatric Health Facility, a psychiatric ward. His death was unexpected and investigation into the facilities handling of his case prompted some procedural and physical changes at La Frontera.^{[1] [11] [12]}

Legacy

In 2003, he was posthumously awarded the Godat Award, which honors lifetime service to the LGBT community.^{[13] [14]}

In 2015, SAGA initiated the Alexander John Goodrum Catalyst of Change award. The first honoree was TV and film star Laverne Cox.^[15]

See also

• List of LGBT rights activists
• List of LGBT rights organizations

Further reading

• Web site: 2001 essay by Alexander Goodrum about a controversy over GenderPAC changing its mission . Forge . Originally published in Transgender Tapestry . 2001.
• Web site: Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer . Spectrum Transgender Group of Western New York.
• TeamEbony . A Look at African-American Trans Trailblazers . . March 1, 2012 .

External links

• Cover of Gender Identity 101: A Transgender Primer at Arizona Queer Archives

Notes and References

1. News: Newell, L. Anne. Investigation will look into death of activist . B6 . Arizona Daily Star . October 8, 2002 .
2. Web site: In Memoriam . March 2, 2012 . March 3, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120303071803/http://www.sagatucson.org/tgnetaz/memorial.htm . live .
3. News: Gale, Elaine. Crossover acts. D1 . Arizona Daily Star . June 30, 2002 .
4. News: Morlock, Blake. Gay task force comes up with 1st proposals. Arizona Daily Star . December 19, 1998 .
5. De La Tierra, Tatiana. "Activist Latina Lesbian Publishing: esto no tiene nombre and conmoción." I am Aztldn: The Personal Essay in Chicano Studies, ed. Chon A. Noriega and Wendy Belcher (Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press, 2004) 194.
6. Book: The Riddle Of Gender: Science, Activism, And Transgender Rights . Anchor . Rudacille, Deborah . 2006 . 276 . 0385721978 . 2021-04-04 . 2014-01-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140103114115/http://books.google.com/books?id=ifUqOE23cBgC . live .
7. Book: Robert Crooks, Karla Baur

   . Our Sexuality. . Cengage Learning . Robert Crooks, Karla Baur . 2007 . 131 . 978-1133943419 . 2021-04-04 . 2021-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310000903/https://books.google.com/books?id=MpRnPtmdRVwC . live .

8. Book: Rebecca L. Walker-Sands, Linda R. Barr

   . Research Navigator Guide for Abnormal Psychology . Allyn & Bacon . Rebecca L. Walker-Sands, Linda R. Barr . 2003 . 64 . 0205408354.

9. Book: Transitions . The Advocate . 2002 . 19 September 2013 . 28 . 21 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921064208/http://books.google.com/books?id=3ioEAQAAIAAJ . live .
10. Web site: Alexander John Goodrum . Southern Arizona Gender Alliance . 19 September 2013 . 21 September 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054437/http://sagatucson.org/goodrum/alexander.html . dead .
11. News: Newell, L. Anne . Death leads to safety changes at La Frontera. Arizona Daily Star. B4 . October 11, 2002 .
12. News: Newell, L. Anne . Claim faults clinic in activist's suicide. B1 . Arizona Daily Star . June 28, 2003 .
13. News: Commings . Jeff . AIDS Activist Craig Snow to Receive Wingspan Honor . Arizona Daily Star . July 24, 2006 . B2.
14. News: Lacy, Sherri . Funhouse theater group dances its way to $2,000 . Arizona Daily Star . September 21, 2003 .
15. Web site: Southern Arizona Gender Alliance Gives Laverne Cox a 'Catalyst of Change' Award. Taracena. María Inés. 2016-09-29. 2016-10-02. https://web.archive.org/web/20161002122011/http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2015/05/05/southern-arizona-gender-alliance-gives-laverne-cox-a-catalyst-of-change-award. live.