Published on Oct 7, 2011
Paula Ettelbrick passed away this morning surrounded by friends and family after a year-long battle with cancer. We mourn the loss of a dear friend to Astraea, one of our stalwart leaders in LGBTI philanthropy and human rights.
A lawyer by training, Paula was a longtime part of the Astraea family who dedicated her life to LGBTI human rights and racial and economic justice. Most recently, she consulted with Astraeas international grants program before taking the helm of the Stonewall Foundation last year.
Paulas impact stretches across more than a quarter century. She contributed strategic thinking, tenacity and wisdom to the field through her work with numerous colleague organizations. Among them are the Empire State Pride Agenda, Lambda Legal, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the International Lesbian and Gay Human Rights Commission (IGLHRC). She impacted countless students as a professor of law.
Paulas sharp eye and constant commitment to the freedom of all LGBTI people never wavered, nor did she confine her efforts to the borders of the U.S. She was a key figure in supporting the work of activists the world over, including Uganda, bringing much needed attention to human rights violations and advocating for change.
We send our deepest condolences to her loved ones and to all touched by her light.
