South Florida LGBTs are mourning the loss of two LGBT activists. Henry Woods was a leader in the Florida LGBT Democratic Caucus, the Key West Lambda Democrats and an adjunct political science professor at Florida Keys Community College. Woods, 58, slipped into a coma on Christmas Eve after suffering a severe aneurysm. According to the Key West Keynoter, Woods was a 10-year Key West resident who also ran Woods Consulting, which takes on public relations, grant writing and other responsibilities for local groups including AIDS Help.
Denise King, mother of murdered gay teenager Simmie Williams, Jr., died suddenly on New Years Eve after collapsing in her Fort Lauderdale apartment two hours before midnight. King’s 17-year old openly gay African-American son was murdered on Sistrunk Blvd. on Feb. 22, 2008. Following his death, King became a spokeswoman against intolerance. Police are still looking for her son’s killer.
