Ruth Shack, Miami Gay Rights Pioneer, Dies at 94 After 1977 Anti-Bias Fight
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Ruth Shack, Miami Gay Rights Pioneer, Dies at 94 After 1977 Anti-Bias Fight
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 3
Summary
Ruth Shack died May 23 at 94 in Cumming, Georgia, after a brief respiratory illness, her daughter Barbara Shack said.
In 1977, the freshman Dade County commissioner pushed one of the nation’s earliest local ordinances barring discrimination against gays and lesbians in housing, education and employment.
The measure passed 5-3, but Anita Bryant soon led a high-profile conservative campaign that overturned it, making Miami a flashpoint in the early gay rights movement.
Shack, a liberal Democrat elected in 1976 with support from gay-rights activists, later recalled a period when gay people could be fired, jailed or driven from homes and public places.
How did a 1970s boycott against Florida orange juice help build the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement?
What can a repealed 1977 Miami law teach advocates about protecting minority rights from a popular vote today?
From 1977 to 2026: Ruth Shack’s Enduring Impact on Miami’s LGBTQ+ Rights and Civic Progress
Overview
Ruth Shack, who passed away on May 23, 2026, was a transformative leader in Miami known for her decades-long influence on civil rights, the arts, and philanthropy. As a Dade County commissioner, she sponsored the landmark 1977 human rights ordinance against discrimination based on homosexuality, showing her commitment to equality. Shack also played a key role in making Miami a vibrant arts destination and led the Dade Community Foundation. Her legacy is celebrated by leaders and organizations across Miami, who honor her enduring impact and the era of progress she helped create.