UPDATE 9/4: details for services for Louise
There are no words to express the depths of our gratitude for your words
of support and love for us and in tribute to Louise’s extraordinary
life. We will celebrate her life with a service at All Saints Church in
Pasadena on Saturday, September 8th at 11am with a reception to follow.
Please come prepared to grieve her loss, celebrate her life — and totell stories about the part of Louise Emerson Brooks that touched your
life. That is quite literally what she said she wanted — and the
producer in her was very clear that she wanted a “production credit” for
the celebration of her life. For more details call All Saints at
626.796.1172
Integrity USA in memory of Louise Brooks
http://integrityusa.org/
838 East High St. #291
Lexington, KY 40502
Husky Camp — Siberian Husky Rescue
http://www.HuskyCamp.com/
Updated Sept. 3 at 10:17 a. m. with two tributes to Louise.
The Rev. Cameron Partridge of TransEpiscopal:
Susan [Russell] explained, “what we found in Anaheim in 2009 was that the presence of members of TransEpiscopal testifying in committee hearings, participating in round-table discussions, speaking their truth, and sharing their lives created a profoundly teachable moment that quite literally changed lives.” But what really struck me was the next sentence: “And one of those was my wife.” “Now,” Susan continued, “I have a hard-and-fast rule to never blog about my wife, but this blog is going to be the exception that proves the rule. A long-time activist, journalist, documentarian, and media consultant, Louise was convinced that gay, lesbian, and bisexual equality was a hard enough row to hoe without adding the ‘T’ into the mix. ‘Let’s fight one battle at a time’ pretty much summed up her position — that is, until the 2009 General Convention and the powerful witness of the transgender folk who so courageously shared their stories, their experience, their journeys, and their reality with her. She left Anaheim committed to finding a way to get their voices out beyond the relatively small audience of an Episcopal General Convention team — and the idea for the documentary film project Voices of Witness: Out of the Box was born.”
There are no words to express the devastating loss of Louise Emerson Brooks.
The simplest way to tell you who Louise was is to say that she was the wife of Susan Russell, but that is to ignore the many accomplishments of this passionate Giant of Justice.
She was a journalist and a producer of TV and independent film. Her last work, “Out of the Box” was a ground-breaking documentary of Episcopalians who are transgender which changed the hearts and minds of many at General Convention, and enabled the passage of legislation adding transgender people to those who may not suffer discrimination in the church because of their God-give gender identity and expression.
She was my kinda woman: feisty and opinionated, passionate and compassionate, smart, savvy and enormously talented.
She fought a valiant fight against Cancer but she did not lose. Her body, ravaged by the effects of chemo, simply couldn’t withstand the additional assault of surgery.
My thoughts and prayers are with Susan and Louise’s brother who kept vigil at her bedside, as well as her family members and many, many friends.
(end update)
From Susan Russell on Facebook:
“After a valiant fight and surrounded by love and light my Louise left us this afternoon shortly after 3:30. We are devastated and so very grateful for the tremendous care she received, the abundant prayers that surrounded her and for the peaceful and painless end of a long, courageous struggle.”
From Rosa Lee Harden on Facebook …
For those who don’t know, if it had not been for Louise Emerson Brooks, the ‘via media’ series might have existed, but it wouldn’t have been FABULOUS. What a great partner and leader in that journey.
Please keep her, and Susan in your prayers.
Louise edited the Walking with Integrity blog of Integrity USA
Her most recent project was the Voices of Witness: Out of the Box – on transgender Episcopalians.
UPDATE: from Elizabeth Kaeton
She was a journalist and a producer of TV and independent film. Her last work, “Out of the Box” was a ground-breaking documentary of Episcopalians who are transgender which changed the hearts and minds of many at General Convention, and enabled the passage of legislation adding transgender people to those who may not suffer discrimination in the church because of their God-give gender identity and expression.
She was my kinda woman: feisty and opinionated, passionate and compassionate, smart, savvy and enormously talented.
She fought a valiant fight against Cancer but she did not lose. Her body, ravaged by the effects of chemo, simply couldn’t withstand the additional assault of surgery
Integrity USA posted this remembrance from President Caro Hall
And from TransEpiscopal