Studds, 1st openly gay congressman dies
By JAY LINDSAY, Associated Press Writer

BOSTON - Former U.S. Rep. Gerry Studds (D-Mass.), the first openly gay person elected to Congress, died early Saturday at Boston Medical Center, several days after he collapsed while walking his dog, his husband said. He was 69. (Read story via Yahoo! News)

Hara, who married Studds shortly after gay marriage was legalized in Massachusetts in 2004, said Studds was a pioneer who gave courage to gay people everywhere by winning re-election after publicly acknowledging his homosexuality.