After his home was invaded by police (resulting in his prosecution for sodomy), Mr. Lawrence brought and won the landmark case Lawrence v. Texas. In the end the Supreme Court declared that it was unconstitutional to single out gays and label their behavior criminal. All the equal protection cases you read about involving equal protection for gays track right back to this one case. Rather like the drag queens and hustlers of Stonewall, Lawrence wasn't political; he was motivated by a consuming sense of the injustice of his treatment by the police.

We post memorials here to singers, Hollywood types and all manner of assorted celebrities. Let's take a moment to remember one of our own who had the gumption and sheer cussedness to do something important for us all.

Raise a glass for the man who let us give up our ass!

Rest in peace!

R.I.P. John Lawrence.