Bill Beck, a leader in the San Diego lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, died Monday of Parkinson's Disease. He was 74.
Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins announced the news Tuesday calling Beck a “true pioneer in LGBT rights in San Diego.”
Beck was dedicated to raising money for AIDS research and fighting for equality but he was also a force in San Diego politics.
The Ohio native helped pave the way for several openly gay candidates to win seats at the state and local levels.
Beck served as finance manager for political candidates, working behind the scenes to help advance those who would give the LGBT community a voice, Atkins said.
Former state senator Christine Kehoe credited Beck with being “part of a wave of progressive change.”
San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis echoed that sentiment in the prepared statement saying that Beck helped members of the community "secure a seat at the table."
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When he was honored by the Lambda Archives of San Diego (LASD) as one of the “Heroes, Pioneers and Trailblazers”, Beck pointed out that he could not have accomplished what he did in his life without the support of his husband David Huskey.
The couple had been together for more than 30 years when they married in 2008.
