I met Jennifer Richards in 1992 at the IFGE convention in Houston. I was asked if I would present her with a Trinity Award. I had not known Jennifer before that. When I read her biography and saw how much she had done for the community, long before the Phyllis Fryes and the Ricki Wilchins, I was truly impressed. I could not wait to meet her. So, let me tell you a little about Ms. Richards, a pioneer in the community who died Dec. 22 at age 44 from AIDS related complications.
She was originally from the Philadelphia area, but left to find her fortune on the West Coast. Settling in Portland, Oregon, she soon became heavily involved in both the gay and transgender communities there.
In 1983, Jennifer co-produced one of the major West Coast transgender events - Dream '83. She also did a cable-television talk show in Portland as Fairy Tyler Moore, her drag-persona.
After moving to St. Louis, Jennifer got involved with what was then the St. Louis Gateway Femmes, a rather conservative organization. She helped get them opened to new ideas and the group changed its name to the St. Louis Gender Foundation. Jennifer served StLGF as its President, Vice President, and its Fashion & Talent Show director for their Fall Harvest event.
Jennifer was the main force behind the first regional coalition of transgender support groups, the Mid-America Gender Group Information Exchange (MAGGIE). MAGGIE includes: StLGF, Iowa Artistry, Kansas City Crossdressers And Friends, River City Gender Alliance, and the Wichita Transgender Alliance. She also served the national community as vice-chair of the Congress of Transgender Organizations from 1993 to1994, and served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the IFGE Trinity Awards for 1993 and 1994.
Jennifer was such a delight to be around. She was bubbly and vivacious. Everywhere she went, she made people feel good about themselves. As a result, she was often honored herself with awards of all kinds - Miss Dream, 1980; the "Maggie" 1992, the Jennifer Richards Humanitarian Outreach Award, 1992; IFGE Trinity Award, 1992; Princess of the Poconos, 1994.
We became close friends back in 1992. We just hit it off instantly. I can say that knowing Jennifer was a great joy for me. We shared a few really great times together. The last time I saw Jennifer was October 1995 at the Fall Harvest in St. Louis. She was thin, haggard and cranky, but her spirit was indomitable. I am diminished greatly by her death. She will be buried in Philadelphia.