Glen Leiner
Bruce generously gave me a sanctuary from overwhelming personal problems when he "took me on" as his foster son on the first day of spring 1975.  I came to him as a  very troubled Gay youth and was fairly oblivious to the fact that his efforts to help someone like me were nothing short of evolutionary.  Bruce
stood up to -- and overcame -- formidable legal challenges, always made time for me, and shared his optimism that the world would one day be safer and more beautiful for us. His dedication to active improvement of the world seemed to play a part of everything he did and, for me, was the perfect antidote to the stultifying negativity of those times.  Of course, so was his terrific sense of humor and delight for all things camp!

In the '70s, Bruce gave me Jonathan Katz's seminal book,"Gay American History," and inscribed it:"May we one day add a chapter."  In his colorful, thoughtful, and truly decent way, Bruce profoundly helped others and left a wonderful, but incomplete, chapter of activism and friendship. How incredibly lucky I am to have known him.
 

Brian Miller:
Bruce told me a few years ago that he had always wanted to contribute to social change, and, now considering his accomplishments, especially from the early '70s, when I first knew him, I think he reached much of that goal.  In those days, the Gay Liberation Front House, where he lived, had an open-door policy,
and its members literally took people in off the streets to help them find their way, in addition to being a center of gay activism and an information clearinghouse. Bruce was a moving force in the house and in many gay liberation actions.

I think he had an acute sense of the historical moment he was living in, and of the potential of a community, and the freedoms at hand.

He was made for social action: smart, savvy, in touch with political news, confident, authoritative, plus having an actor's instinct for the dramatic gesture. I'll always see him with an eyebrow raised, a conspiratorial grin and, somewhere near at hand, a feather boa.

By staying in harmony with his ideals--taking action, fighting back if necessary, to contribute to positive change--Bruce was indeed a hero of gay liberation.
 

Jan Knode:
I met Bruce Pennington shortly after the tragedy of September 11, 2001.  Mark Meinke and I had attended service at the Washington Cathedral and joined Bruce for lunch.  I didn't just make a new acquaintance that day.  I met a friend.

As time passed I saw the many facets that were Bruce.  He could be witty, charming, acerbic, stubborn, giving, loving, outspoken and honest.  There were times when he could be a curmudgeon's curmudgeon.  Bruce was an array of personalities that charmed and at times exasperated.

When I was in the hospital for major surgery early this year, Bruce cooked a magnificent turkey dinner (enough to feed five people for days) so my husband and daughter wouldn't have to worry about cooking while I was hospitalized.

I knew Bruce for two short years but in spirit I had known him forever.

Allen Young:
I remember Bruce Pennington as one of the early gay liberation pioneers. I was active in Gay Liberation Front in New York City, where the "organization" (using that term loosely) started -- but there soon emerged a network of activists across the nation. We embraced one another with unbridled enthusiasm. The 1969 Stonewall Rebellion in Greenwich Village is the event that is most remembered, but the first few years of the post-Stonewall gay liberation movement created the groundwork for all of the progress we have seen since then. Bruce was part of that and the Rainbow History project is to be congratulated for keeping his memory alive.

Tom Ashe:
I met Bruce in November, 1970 at the GLF Commune in DC where I lived for 6 months with Bruce and David and Jose and all the other wonderful gay lights in the house having good political fun after being arrested at the Black Panther RPCC. We were the DC Dozen (or as Bruce would say the Dizzy Dozen. We baked bread and went to demonstrations and had parties.  Bruce visited me several times afterwards bringing his costumes to San Francisco. His stage name at that time was Aurora Borealis and he had the boas to match. Bruce made me laugh and was a great friend to me and many others. I miss him. The last time I saw him was at the GLF reunion in 1994 (25 year anniversary of Stonewall) in NYC and regret not seeing him again.  The time we spent together was when we were  both recklessly young and free and committed to a better world.  I miss those days and I miss Bruce.

Loraine Hutchins:
As a young bi woman writer, Bruce interviewed me, and my friend Ed Cox, a gay poet, on his radio show, Friends.  I still have a copy of that tape.  It was incredible all he brought out in us from his gentle persistent style of interviewing. He was the first person who ever encouraged me to read my poetry on the air. I also felt validated in both my love for women and my love for men, by him, which is quite special.  I remember visiting GLF House, on S St., when he and the other wonderful men who founded it, were there.  It was so amazing to see men caring for each other and creating community together.  I worked at the SAJA Runaway House, the youth services agency that supervised Bruce as one of the first openly gay foster parents in this community.  We were proud to have him and the young people were so happy to be treasured and accepted as who they were.  It's been an honor to serve with him on the Rainbow Archives board and I'm sad we have lost him.

Jim Wright
San Francisco
former Washingtonian:
I first knew Bruce many years ago when he was serving as foster father to Glenn Leiner.  I remember being struck by Bruce's rather casual outward show of discipline with an adolescent, but both sides seemed to know the limits, and I believe Bruce gave him a solid refuge from a family which I understand had rejected him simply for being honest enough to discuss the fact that he was gay.  I  thought Bruce was terrific for taking on duties which, after all, weren't his to fulfill.  He did it because he found a need in a kid who probably had few other options.  I truly found that (and him) admirable.
 

Jim Four:
Bruce's heart was as bold as his convictions. He never let anything be swept under the table. His flair for imaginative living resonated in not only his dress and his meal preparation. put in all things that expressed gay love and community. Bruce understood from the very beginning that none of us would be free until all of us were free.

Brice dedicated his life early on to make sure that the color purple was visible in the People's Rainbow Flag.
Sometimes he teetered on the edge and even slipped ... but always ... always with a smile and a renewed vigor for life ... he crawled gayly back.

Bruce took up permanent space in my heart what seems like a billion years ago and at the same time just yesterday,

No one .... and I mean no one ... knew how to wear feathers like my faery brother Bruce Pennington.

blessed be

total assault

Lorenzo Taylor and the Metropolitan Community Church Singles Connection Ministry:
Bruce was one of our most loyal and consistent participants in the Singles Connection group at MCC, over the year that we met twice a month at the church on Friday nights.  He was always among the first to arrive (always with a yummy dish, a smile and piercing eyes) and was among the last to leave.  We always had a different group of participants from the church and the community, but Bruce was a constant.  Not only was he always there, he never hesitated to share sometimes painful parts of himself with us, but always did it with love.   He talked about his losses and about the things he struggled to overcome.  He bubbled with joyous anticipation over his cosmetic surgery last winter and made us feel like each event was special for him in some way.  He also let us know when we missed the mark on something.   If you attended a Singles Connection event at MCC, you knew he was there and if you were at an 11 am service he sat in the very center of the sanctuary in rapt attention.  We will miss him, but will always be grateful for the time he shared with us in the final year of his life.   What a tremendous gift of encouragement he was to us and we hope that in some small ways we were the blessing that God had in store for him as well.  Godspeed Bruce, we know the angels will just love your company and fellowship as much as we did.

Bill Kibler, GayDC.Net:
DC has lost one of its true pioneers and Bruce will be truly missed within the Community.

Janell (Hoffert) Sailer:
I grew up in Rugby ND and  went to school with Bruce.  He was the kid you loved to have in class as he was so much fun!!!  I remember his wit.  Teachers didn't always appreciate that but modern teachers would be envious if that would be the only problem they needed to contend with.  I remember Bruce as a very intelligent guy.   I just wished I had known his condition so I could have called or sent a card.

Sharon Blessum:
I grew up across the street from Bruce so have poignant memories of him and his family.   I feel great sadness over his death and extend heartfelt condolences to friends who who were fortunate enough to know him in his very significant adult life.

With respect