John C. Anderson (c. 1942 – October 3, 1983) was a member of the Philadelphia City Council from 1979 to 1983. Although it was not widely known at the time, Anderson, a Black gay man, was the first person from the LGBTQ community to serve on the council.[1] As of October 2022, he remained the only one.
John C. Anderson | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Philadelphia City Council | |
| In office 1979–1983 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1942 Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died | October 3, 1983 (aged 41) Wynnefield, Philadelphia, U.S. |
Early life and education
editAnderson was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Elizabeth Anderson Monteiro, a teacher, and the Rev. Jesse Anderson, Sr (d. 1975), a civil rights activist.[2][3][4] His brother was Rev. Jesse Anderson, Jr, one of the founders of Washington DC's Statehood Party.[3][4] They grew up in Philadelphia where their father was pastor at St. Thomas Episcopal Church.[5]
Anderson graduated from Overbrook High School in 1959.[2] He received his BA from Lincoln University in 1963 and his law degree from Howard University School of Law in 1969.[5]
Career
editHe worked as an assistant district attorney and then as a partner at Bloom, Ocks, Fisher, and Anderson.[5] Before being elected to city council, Anderson served as counsel to the City Council president.[6]
City Council
editIn 1979, Anderson was elected as an at-large member to the Philadelphia City Council.[2] Anderson lived in Wynnefield.[7] He was known as “a liberal lion of the time."[8] He helped pass the Housing Opportunities Bill, a move against housing discrimination.[6] In 1981, Anderson and John White Jr., also a council member, visited Israel.[3]
In May 1983, Anderson was the top vote-getter in the primary for at-large city council seats.[9]
Death
editOn October 3, 1983, he died of AIDS at the age of 41, though it was reported as he died from sarcoidosis.[3] At the time, he was running for re-election to the council. Michael Nutter, who later served as mayor of Philadelphia, was Anderson's campaign manager in 1983.[1] The funeral was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in West Philadelphia.[3] Then Mayor William J. Green III called Anderson "a vital force in City Council."[5] The Philadelphia Daily News editorialized that he had been "remarkably talented" as a legislator and added "his loss is a loss for the entire city."[6]
Legacy
editIn 2014, the John C. Anderson Apartments opened on Spruce Street in Philadelphia as a place for LGBTQ seniors.[10] A portrait of Anderson, painted by William Thomas Whiting, is in the lobby.[1] The John C. Anderson Cultural Center is located at 5301 Overbrook Avenue in Philadelphia. Anderson's papers are held at Temple University.[11]
References
edit- ^ a b c Anna Orso and Sean Collins Walsh (3 October 2022). "Philly has never had an openly LGBTQ City Council member. That could change after next year's election". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ a b c "Councilman Anderson, 41, dies of respiratory ailment," Philadelphia Inquirer, October 4, 1983, p. 4-A, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ a b c d e "Anderson, John". Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ a b Chuck Stone, "Praise for a Great Man's Legacy," Philadelphia Daily News, October 7, 1983, p. 2, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ a b c d Kit Konolige, "Anderson Recalled as 'Always in a Hurry'," Philadelphia Daily News, October 4, 1983, p. 5, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ a b c Editorial, "John Anderson," Philadelphia Daily News, October 4, 1983, p. 27, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ Gar Joseph and Linn Washington, "Colleagues Eulogize John Anderson," Philadelphia Daily News, October 7, 1983, p. 6, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ Molly Eichel (26 September 2015). "Mayor Nutter praised former Councilman John C. Anderson. Who was he?". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ Kit Konolige, "Anderson Followed 'Call to Serve'," Philadelphia Daily News, October 8, 1983, p. 24, retrieved 2022-10-04
- ^ Kevin Riordan (26 August 2022). "This LGBTQ-friendly seniors building is a 'dream come true' for residents — and a model for affordable housing in other cities". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ^ "John C. Anderson Papers". Retrieved 2022-10-04.