Mel Boozer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mel Boozer
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Melvin "Mel" Boozer
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| Born | June 21, 1945 |
| Died | March 6, 1987 (aged 41) Washington, D.C.
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| Cause of death | AIDS-related illness |
| Nationality | American |
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| Known for | The first openly gay candidate for Vice President of the United States |
Melvin Boozer (June 21, 1945 – March 6, 1987) was a university professor and a champion for equal rights. He worked hard to support African American people and LGBT people. He also helped raise awareness about serious illnesses like HIV/AIDS. Mel Boozer was involved in both the Democratic Party and the Socialist Party USA. He made history as the first openly gay person to be nominated for Vice President of the United States.
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Early Life and Education
Mel Boozer grew up in Washington, D.C.. He was a very bright student. He graduated from Dunbar High School as the salutatorian. This means he was the second-highest-ranking student in his graduating class.
Boozer then went to Dartmouth College on a scholarship in 1963. He was one of only three African American students accepted that year. After college, he continued his studies at Yale University. He earned a Ph.D., which is a very high university degree. Later, he became a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland. Sociology is the study of how people live together in groups and societies.
Working for Equal Rights
In 1979, Mel Boozer became the president of the Gay Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.. This group worked to protect the rights of gay and lesbian people. He was the first African American to lead this organization. He served two one-year terms.
During his time as president, the group achieved important things. They won the right to place posters on Metrobus that said "Someone in Your Life is Gay." This helped spread a message of understanding. The group also gained the right to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery. This showed respect for all people.
Boozer also wrote for BlackLight. This was the first national magazine for black gay people.
Political Involvement
In 1980, Mel Boozer was nominated for the office of Vice President of the United States. He was nominated by the Socialist Party USA. He was also nominated by petition at the Democratic Party convention. This made him the first openly gay person ever nominated for this important position.
At the Democratic convention, Boozer received 49 votes. The voting was then stopped, and Walter Mondale was chosen as the Vice Presidential candidate.
In 1981, Boozer joined the National Gay Task Force. He worked as a district director and a lobbyist. A lobbyist tries to influence lawmakers to support certain causes. In 1983, his role at the organization changed.
In 1982, he helped start the Langston Hughes–Eleanor Roosevelt Democratic Club. This club worked to support black LGBT people in Washington, D.C. He led the club in 1983 and 1984.
Legacy and Recognition
Mel Boozer passed away in March 1987 at the age of 41. He died from an illness related to HIV/AIDS. His life and work are remembered in the AIDS Memorial Quilt. This quilt honors people who have died from AIDS.
In June 2019, Mel Boozer was honored as one of the first fifty American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes." He was inducted onto the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor. This wall is located within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York City. The SNM is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history. The unveiling of the wall happened during the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
See also
In Spanish: Mel Boozer para niños
