Note from Keri Smith: Margaret has allowed me to post this tribute to Nathan Christoffersen, an activist, writer, and friend, who passed away this Friday. Our condolences to his family and friends. He will be greatly missed.
Nathan first contacted us with a letter about his involvement in a protest of the homophobic “Love Won Out” conference in Fresno, CA. We loved the enthusiasm and positive outlook of his letter, and included it on Margaret’s blog after last year’s election. Over the ensuing year, Nathan continued to keep me up to date with his activism and continually inspired me with his dedication to equal rights and his generous and friendly nature. He took great pride in standing up for his beliefs every single day, and he managed to accomplish more in the year that I knew him than most of us do in a lifetime.
Soon after he first wrote to us he became the chapter head of Madera County for Marriage Equality California. He became a volunteer journalist for GayFresno.com and filed reports on Equality California’s Power Summit in Fresno, recent fires at gay-owned nightclubs in Fresno, and the Governor’s veto of equal marriage rights legislation for CA. He had most recently written about his commitment to women’s rights and shared his excitement about a potential job with Planned Parenthood.
He was a constant source of optimism and energy. One of the first essays I read of Nathan’s was called “Leaving Your Legacy.” He has certainly left his.