Gay helpline pioneer Rose Robertson has passed.

November 7, 2011 4:42 PM

Before the Second World War, Rose Robertson did secretarial work. During the war, as part of her work for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) in the UK, Robertson parachuted into occupied France to spy on German troop deployments and act as a courier. Her acquaintance there with a gay couple in the French Resistance, and, after the war, friendship with gay lodgers, led her to found Parents Enquiry, Britain's first helpline to support parents and their lesbian, gay and bisexual children, an organization which she operated for many years.

Her work anticipated that of Friends and Families of Lesbians And Gays (FFLAG) and Parents, Friends (& Family) of Lesbians And Gays (PFLAG). She has just passed at 94.

posted by Morrigan (37 comments total)

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posted by brundlefly at 4:48 PM on November 7, 2011

Hard to make a . as big as her heart.
posted by mykescipark at 4:49 PM on November 7, 2011 [4 favorites]

A great British hero I'd never heard of before.

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/salutes
posted by Artw at 4:51 PM on November 7, 2011

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Now there's someone who truly left the world better than she found it. Every day Fred Phelps outlives her is a sad day.
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:58 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by emmtee at 4:59 PM on November 7, 2011

Wow, she remained completely cool for her entire life. Very few people end up being on the right side of everything.

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posted by bearwife at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011 [13 favorites]

I had never heard of her, but what a fantastic person. Thanks for the post.
posted by maxwelton at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by lumpenprole at 5:01 PM on November 7, 2011

Deep bow

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posted by Jikido at 5:04 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by Mercaptan at 5:14 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by Unioncat at 5:19 PM on November 7, 2011

Awesome Rose! I, too, had never heard of her. What a fascinating woman.

And now I also want to know much more about that gay couple in the French Resistance. There's a decent movie in there, somewhere...
posted by darkstar at 5:28 PM on November 7, 2011 [2 favorites]

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posted by dismas at 5:48 PM on November 7, 2011

Wow. Total hero.

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posted by jburka at 5:55 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by mumkin at 6:05 PM on November 7, 2011

It's always nice to know people like her existed.
posted by Red Loop at 6:06 PM on November 7, 2011 [1 favorite]

Wow. What an amazing person.

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posted by biscotti at 6:47 PM on November 7, 2011

. Thanks for sharing this. I did not know of her or her story. What a great lady!
posted by pointystick at 6:56 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by ericb at 6:58 PM on November 7, 2011

Actually ... that should be --

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posted by ericb at 6:58 PM on November 7, 2011 [5 favorites]

Wow, what an inspirational woman! If I show a tenth of the courage and goodness she has shown in her life, I'll be happy with my life.
posted by Kattullus at 7:21 PM on November 7, 2011

Excellent. How wonderful. Thank you for this.
posted by dng at 7:26 PM on November 7, 2011

I just learned about you tonight, Rose. I don't know what else to say at the moment but Thank You.

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posted by treepour at 7:44 PM on November 7, 2011

Thank you for the post, and thank you Rose.
posted by ltracey at 8:03 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by Madamina at 8:34 PM on November 7, 2011

Wow.

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posted by Avenger at 8:50 PM on November 7, 2011

I had no idea. Thank you so much for this.

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posted by rtha at 9:13 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by driley at 9:44 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by yellowcandy at 9:48 PM on November 7, 2011

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posted by Iteki at 11:27 PM on November 7, 2011

Thank you for leaving the world a better place for your having been here, dear Rose. Your contribution is appreciated, and appreciable for ever.
posted by taff at 3:29 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

Here's hoping that some of the kids that may grow up being bullied under Michigan's idiotic, despicable new law will end up being civil rights legends like this woman.

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posted by Aizkolari at 3:50 AM on November 8, 2011

Robertson parachuted into occupied France to spy on German troop deployments and act as a courier.

Most badass femailman ever.

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posted by hal_c_on at 4:34 AM on November 8, 2011

Thank you, Rose. You did such good work.

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posted by theatro at 5:27 AM on November 8, 2011

It's always striking to read about people who are tough as nails acting for the sake of people less fortunate than themselves. It's a striking contrast to those who use their positions of strength to further themselves without regard to others.

I'm glad Rose was here and did what she did, and also that she could see so much positive change in the world at large during her lifetime. If the state of LGBT rights looks poor now, it has recently been much worse.

> Michigan's idiotic, despicable new law

Fortunately it currently is only a bill and not a law. It is still being debated and may be voted away.
posted by ardgedee at 5:44 AM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]

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posted by idb at 6:15 AM on November 8, 2011

Someone like this makes me want to paraphrase a popular gay slogan and use it as self-instruction:

It Gets Better!

Because seriously, reading this is one of those "hey you, yeah you over there, why don't you try to be 1/1000th as bad ass as this. For like a week or two at least."

I can't imagine what my life would be like without people like Rose having existed first.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 12:22 PM on November 8, 2011 [1 favorite]