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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments may comfort the family and many friends |
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of journalist Kay Longcope of Austin, who passed away on March 28, |
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2007; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Longcope published her first newspaper while |
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attending South Ward Elementary; growing up in Brownwood, she knew |
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from an early age that she wanted to be a journalist, and she |
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continued to pursue journalism throughout her academic career, |
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working on her high school paper and writing for The Daily Texan as |
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a student at The University of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, After a decade of doing publicity work for the |
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United Council of Churches in New York, she joined the staff of the |
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Boston Globe in 1970, serving as an urban specialist reporter and |
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religion editor; later in her 22-year tenure with the paper, she |
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covered civil rights issues and a wide range of news topics |
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affecting the lesbian and gay community; and |
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WHEREAS, Her work was recognized by the Human Rights Campaign |
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Fund, and when U.S. Representative Barney Frank decided to disclose |
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that he was gay, he chose Ms. Longcope to conduct the interview; as |
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the Globe's first openly gay reporter, she served as a passionate |
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force for change and an eloquent advocate for gay and lesbian |
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rights; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Longcope retired from the Boston Globe in 1992 |
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and moved to Austin with her partner, Barbara Wohlgemuth; together |
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they established the Texas Triangle, a weekly for the gay and |
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lesbian community; the publication focused on news and social |
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issues, and within only three weeks circulation went statewide; |
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maintaining high ethical standards, Ms. Longcope refused to allow |
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certain advertisements in the paper, even at risk of financial |
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loss; and |
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WHEREAS, This notable Texan maintained a home in Austin for |
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many years, but also loved spending time in her second home of North |
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Truro, Massachusetts, where she wrote freelance pieces and took |
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time to enjoy her favorite hobbies; and |
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WHEREAS, A woman of tremendous integrity and independence, |
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Kay Longcope informed and enlightened many throughout her career, |
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and she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to benefit the |
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lives of countless Texans; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Kay Longcope and |
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extend deepest sympathy to her partner of 17 years, Barbara |
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Wohlgemuth, to her brothers, Charles Longcope, Jr., and Edmund M. |
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Longcope III, and to all those who mourn her passing; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her loved ones and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Kay |
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Longcope. |