{{Short description|American LGBT rights activist (1953–2016)}} {{Other people|Jeff Montgomery}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Jeffrey Montgomery | image = JeffreyMontgomery1.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1953|5|9|mf=y}} | birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2016|7|18|1953|5|9|mf=y}} | death_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S. | political_party = Democratic | alma_mater = Michigan State University | movement = LGBT movement in the US | relatives = James Montgomery (brother) | occupation = Public relations; US lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) activist | website = {{URL|jeffreymontgomery.org}} | footnotes = <ref name="freep71916">{{Cite news |title = Jeff Montgomery, Michigan Gay-Rights Advocate, Dies at 63 |last = Helms |first = Matt |work = Detroit Free Press |date = July 19, 2016 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2016/07/19/jeff-montgomery-gay-rights-death/87300572/ }}</ref><ref name="mt71916">{{Cite news |title = Michigan LGBTQ Activist Jeffrey Montgomery Dies at 63 |last = Lewis |first = Sarah |work = Metro Times |location = Ferndale, MI |date = July 19, 2016 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.metrotimes.com/Blogs/archives/2016/07/19/michigan-lgbtq-activist-jeffrey-montgomery-dies }}</ref><ref name="lgbtqn71916">{{Cite news |title = Remembering Jeff Montgomery, LGBTQ Rights Advocate |last = Ennis |first = Dawn |work = LGBTQ Nation |date = July 19, 2016 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/07/remembering-jeff-montgomery-lgbtq-rights-advocate/ }}</ref><ref name="btl71916">{{Cite news |title = Breaking: Jeffrey Montgomery, Triangle Foundation Founder, Has Died |work = Between the Lines |date = July 19, 2016 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=77276 }}</ref><ref name="detnews503">{{Cite news |title = Michiganians of the Year: Jeffrey Montgomery |last = Vandenabeele |first = Janet |work = The Detroit News |date = May 4, 2003 |page = 07X }}</ref><ref name="detnews71916">{{Cite news |title = Michigan Gay Rights Activist Jeffrey Montgomery Dies |last = Williams |first = Candice |work = The Detroit News |date = July 19, 2016 |access-date = July 20, 2016 |url = http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2016/07/19/jeffrey-montgomery-dies/87324810/ }}</ref><ref name="btl72016">{{Cite news |title = Jeffrey Montgomery, LGBTQ Leader Dies at 63 |last = Heywood |first = Todd |work = Between the Lines |date = July 20, 2016 |access-date = July 20, 2016 |url = http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=77368 }}</ref> }} '''Jeffrey Montgomery''' (May 9, 1953 – July 18, 2016) was an American LGBTQ activist and public relations executive. In 1984, his partner, Michael, was shot to death outside a Detroit gay bar, prompting Montgomery to engage in LGBT advocacy. He started work on LGBT anti-violence issues upon learning that the police were not spending many resources on solving the murder, "just another gay killing". In 1991 Montgomery became the founding executive director of the Triangle Foundation,<ref name="lgbtqn71916" /><ref name="detnews503" /><ref name="advocate498">{{cite news |last = Charney |first = Jennifer |title = Motor City Blues |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=EGQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52 |access-date = December 22, 2010 |magazine = The Advocate |date = April 14, 1998 |page = 52 |via = Google Books }}</ref><ref name="ap304">{{cite news |last = Irwin |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sXAyAAAAIBAJ&sjid=16wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1410,230607 |access-date = December 22, 2010 |first = Jim |title = Gay Couples Are Denied Marriage Licenses in Detroit |newspaper = Argus-Press |location = Owosso, MI |date = March 4, 2004 |agency = Associated Press |via = Google News }}</ref> and served until September 2007.<ref name="detnews71916" /><ref name="crains92007">{{Cite news |title = Triangle Foundation Director to Step Down |last = Boyd |first = Leah |work = Crain's Detroit Business |date = September 20, 2007 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20070920/SUB/70920004/triangle-foundation-director-to-step-down }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |url = http://www.pridesource.com/article-mobile.html?article=27169 |title = Triangle's Montgomery to Step Down |date = September 27, 2007 |work = Between the Lines |access-date = July 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022181854/http://www.pridesource.com/article-mobile.html?article=27169|archive-date=October 22, 2016}}</ref> Initially engaging in victim advocacy around LGBT violence, and to improve handling of LGBT related cases, the foundation's work expanded to LGBT civil rights and advocacy, with projects for anti-violence, media activism, and legislative education on LGBT civil rights. He became nationally known for his work and served at numerous organizations.
==Personal life== Montgomery was born in Detroit, Michigan on May 9, 1953.<ref name="detnews71916" /> He grew up in nearby Grosse Pointe and graduated in 1971 from Grosse Pointe South High School,<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="detnews71916" /> where he had served as student body president.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="btl72016" /> His father, John Montgomery, worked for Chrysler as a public relations executive.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.mmone.org/james-montgomery/|title=James Montgomery|date=2017-10-03|website=The Music Museum of New England|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-25}}</ref> His older brother, James Montgomery,<ref name="detnews71916" /> is an American blues musician, best known as the lead singer, blues harp player, frontman, and bandleader of The James Montgomery Blues Band (a.k.a. The James Montgomery Band).<ref name=":1" /> His other brother, John Montgomery,<ref name="detnews71916" /> also worked in the music industry before becoming an entrepreneur in the Metro Detroit area.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}
He graduated from Michigan State University in 1976<ref name="detnews503" /> with a bachelor's degree in social science. In 1975, while attending Michigan State, he worked as the student house manager and head usher of the university's auditorium.<ref>{{cite news |title = Show Must Go On, So It Did in MSU Flood |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5939540/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |date = April 22, 1975 |page = A3 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref> He moved to Detroit after graduating and remained a resident of Detroit for the remainder of his life.<ref name="freep71916" />
In 1984, his partner, Michael, was shot to death outside a Detroit gay bar, prompting Montgomery to engage in LGBT advocacy.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="detnews503" />
Montgomery died from a heart attack<ref name="detnews71916" /> at the age of 63 on July 18, 2016<ref name="mt71916" /><ref name="btl71916" /><ref name="detnews71916" /> at Harper University Hospital in Detroit.<ref name="freep71916" /> Friends reported that his health had been declining in the preceding years.<ref name="freep71916" />
==Professional life== Montgomery worked for approximately thirteen years, until January 1989, on the restoration of Detroit's Orchestra Hall.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="freep189">{{cite news |title = Young Detroiter Shares Washington Limelight with George Bush |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5941208/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |last = Craig |first = Charlotte W. |date = January 29, 1989 |page = 3J |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref>
He worked as public relations director of America's Thanksgiving Parade.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="freep1190">{{cite news |title = Thanksgiving 1990: Great Parade Day |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5941119/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |last = Williams |first = Mike |date = November 23, 1990 |page = A1 |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref> He was serving in this role in 1989 when the parade moved back to the Gnome block<ref name="freep989">{{cite news |title = Woodward Avenue Blues Eased with Parade Shift |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5943750/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = The Detroit News |last = Fitzgerald |first = Jim |date = September 9, 1989 |page = 12C |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref> and in 1990, when for the first time a balloon escaped from the parade.<ref name="freep1190" />
===Triangle Foundation=== In 1991,<ref name="freep71916" /> he joined Henry D. Messer and John Monahan in founding the Triangle Foundation<ref name="mt71916" /><ref name="detnews71916" /> (now Equality Michigan).<ref name="freep71916" /> He worked as the organization's president,<ref name="detnews696">{{cite news |title = Should Canton Get into Morals Business? |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5941250/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = The Detroit News |last = Garrett |first = Craight |date = June 2, 1996 |page = 10A |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref> interim executive director,<ref name="advocate498" /> and eventually executive director<ref name="freep71916" /> until September 2007.<ref name="detnews71916" /><ref name="crains92007" />
The organization was initially founded to engage in victim advocacy around LGBT violence, and work with police and prosecutors to improve the handling of LGBT related cases.<ref name="freep71916" /> The organization soon expanded to include work on discrimination cases, and then political advocacy following the closure of the Michigan Organization for Human Rights.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="mt71916" /> By 2003, the organization had grown to five paid staff and hundreds of volunteers, and had helped about 5,000 victims of LGBT-related discrimination, harassment, or violence.<ref name="detnews503" />
He made the formal announcement of his departure as executive director at the organization's 2007 annual dinner on September 29, 2007.<ref name="crains92007" />
==Political activism== [[File:20.NAMESProject.AIDS.Quilt.WDC.10oct92.jpg|thumb|left|Jeffrey Montgomery attends The NAMES Project's AIDS Quilt Memorial Display Candlelight Vigil at the Lincoln Memorial on October 10, 1992.|alt=Jeffrey Montgomery attends AIDS Quilt Memorial Display Candlelight Vigil in Washington DC]]Following the murder of his partner, Michael, in 1984, Montgomery began to engage in LGBT advocacy.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="mt71916" /><ref name="lgbtqn71916" /><ref name="detnews503" /> He was motivated to work on LGBT anti-violence issues after learning from a Wayne County prosecutor a day after Michael's funeral that the Detroit Police Department was not spending many resources on solving the murder, calling it "just another gay killing".<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="lgbtqn71916" /><ref name="detnews503" /><ref name="btl72016" /> {{As of|July 2016}}, Michael's murder remains unsolved.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="lgbtqn71916" />
Montgomery was widely quoted in media outlets on LGBT issues and high-profile LGBT-related crimes,<ref name="detnews71916" /> such as the murder of Scott Amedure in 1995,<ref name="lgbtqn71916" /><ref name="btl72016" /><ref>{{cite news |title = Schmidtz Verdict Upheld |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5941167/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |date = August 27, 1999 |last = Braiser |first = L.L. |page = 8A |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref> and murder of Matthew Shepard.<ref name="freep71916" /><ref name="btl72016" /><ref name="rmn1099">{{Cite news |last = McCullen |first = Kevin |title = Sexual Advance Triggered Beating of Shepard, Defense Attorney Says. |newspaper = Rocky Mountain News |location = Denver |via = HighBeam Research |access-date = July 19, 2016 |date = October 26, 1999 |url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67423773.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160911032534/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-67423773.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 11, 2016 }}</ref> National LGBT organizations paid for Montgomery to attend the trials of Shepard's killers.<ref name="freep71916" /> In 2001, Montgomery was a featured participant in an A&E Network documentary about the Matthew Shepard case.<ref name="tcm-mss">{{Cite web |title = Matthew Shepard Story — Special, The (2001) - Overview |work = Turner Classic Movies |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/471457/the-matthew-shepard-story-special |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20250619054618/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/471457/the-matthew-shepard-story-special |url-status = dead |archive-date = June 19, 2025 }}</ref>
Montgomery was the co-chair of the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP), for which he was also a national spokesperson.<ref name="rmn1099" /><ref name="btl906">{{Cite news |title = Kaplan, Montgomery Honored by State Bar |work = Between the Lines |date = September 2006 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.pridesource.com/article-mobile.html?article=20207 |archive-date = August 14, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160814123542/http://www.pridesource.com/article-mobile.html?article=20207 |url-status = dead }}</ref> He was also a member of the Steering Committee of the Michigan Alliance Against Hate Crimes,<ref name="btl610" /> the Bias Crime Response Task Force of the Michigan Commission on Civil Rights,<ref name="detnews71916" /><ref>{{cite news |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5942311/detroit_free_press/ |title = Panel urges a broader state hate crime law |last = Shepardson |first = David |date = May 19, 1996 |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |page = 4B |access-date = July 19, 2016 |via = Newspapers.com }} {{Open access}}</ref> and a board member of the ACLU of Michigan.<ref name="btl610">{{Cite news |title = Running the Relay |last = Carreras |first = Jessica |work = Between the Lines |date = June 24, 2010 |access-date = July 20, 2016 |url = http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=42034 |archive-date = August 14, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160814094831/http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=42034 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
He was one of the founding board members of the Woodhull Freedom Foundation (also known as the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance) in 2003, and remained active with the organization until his death.<ref name="woodhull71916">{{Cite web |url = http://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2016/sex-and-politics/woodhull-freedom-foundation-mourns-death-of-one-of-its-founders-jeffrey-montgomery-a-leader-activist-a-mentor-and-sexual-freedom-movement-hero/ |title = Woodhull Freedom Foundation Mourns Death of One of Its Founders, Jeffrey Montgomery |date = July 19, 2016 |author = Woodhull Freedom Foundation |publisher = Woodhull Freedom Foundation |access-date = July 19, 2016 |archive-date = July 23, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160723164246/http://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2016/sex-and-politics/woodhull-freedom-foundation-mourns-death-of-one-of-its-founders-jeffrey-montgomery-a-leader-activist-a-mentor-and-sexual-freedom-movement-hero/ |url-status = dead }}</ref> He was also an inaugural member of the WikiQueer Global Advisory Board and served as Strategic Counsel to the wiki's parent organization, The Aequalitas Project.<ref name="wq-advisory">{{cite web |url = http://www.wikiqueer.org/w/WikiQueer:Global_Advisory_Board |title = WikiQueer:Global Advisory Board |publisher = WikiQueer |access-date = March 27, 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120801185909/http://www.wikiqueer.org/w/WikiQueer%3AGlobal_Advisory_Board |archive-date = August 1, 2012 |url-status = dead }}</ref>
Montgomery was among a group of LGBT activists, representing NCAVP, invited to Washington, D.C. for meetings beginning in 1997 with senior policy officials at the White House.<ref name="detnews71916" /><ref name="advocate1297">{{Cite news |work = The Advocate |title = Taking It to the People |last = Savage |first = Todd |via = Google Books |date = December 9, 1997 |pages = 33–34 |access-date = July 20, 2016 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=j2MEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33 }}</ref>
In 2000, he delivered the inaugural Matthew Shepard Memorial Lecture at Brown University.<ref name="detnews71916" /> That address, "America...You Kill Me", was dedicated to Matthew Shepard.<ref name="detnews71916" />
In 2002, Montgomery was invited, with other LGBT leaders from across the country, to meet with and inform United States Senators about the issues and challenges facing the LGBT community.<ref name="detnews71916" />
In 2004, he helped organize opposition to Michigan's same-sex marriage constitutional amendment,<ref name="ap304" /> passed later that year.<ref name="cnn2004results">{{Cite news |title = Election 2004: Ballot Measures |publisher = CNN |date = November 2004 |access-date = July 19, 2016 |url = http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2004/pages/results/ballot.measures/ }}</ref>
In the years prior to his death, he was working on a feature-length documentary showcasing his work in Detroit's LGBT community. The film, ''America You Kill Me'', premiered at the Freep Film Festival in Detroit on April 28, 2022.<ref name="btl71916" /><ref name="detnews71916" />
==Honors== thumb|Montgomery accepting the Vicki Sexual Freedom Award in 2012 from Ricci Joy Levy The Detroit City Council honored Montgomery with the "Spirit of Detroit" award three times.<ref name="detnews71916" /> The Michigan Legislature twice commended Montgomery with special tributes.<ref name="detnews71916" />
In 1997, he received a Golden Apple Award from the Roeper School.<ref name="free497">{{cite news |title = Noted Actor to Speak |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5943716/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |date = April 7, 1997 |page = 2B |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref>
In August 1999, Montgomery was named one of the "Best and Brightest" national LGBT activists by ''The Advocate'' magazine.<ref name="advocate899">{{Cite news |last1 = Gideonse |first1 = Ted |last2 = Johnson |first2 = Hans |last3 = Jordan |first3 = Tony |last4 = Meyer |first4 = Lisa |last5 = Vozenilek |first5 = Helen |last6 = Gallagher |first6 = John |title = Our Best and Brightest Activists: Politics |newspaper = The Advocate |via = HighBeam Research |access-date = July 20, 2016 |date = August 17, 1999 |url = https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55316117.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160911025049/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-55316117.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 11, 2016 }}</ref><ref name="freep799">{{cite news |title = Names & Faces |url = https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5946312/detroit_free_press/ |newspaper = Detroit Free Press |last = Smyntek |first = John |date = July 23, 1999 |page = 6F |via = Newspapers.com |access-date = July 19, 2016 }} {{Open access}}</ref>
Montgomery was named, along with twelve others, a "Michiganian of the Year" for 2002 by the Detroit News,<ref name="mt71916" /><ref name="detnews71916" /> stating "He turned personal tragedy into a fight for gay equality".<ref name="detnews503" />
In May 2003, Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm honored his work with a special tribute, calling him a "hero and living legend".<ref name=":0" /> The governor also noted that he was "among the most visible and accomplished advocates for safety and equality of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in Michigan history".<ref name="detnews71916" />
He received the Liberty Bell Award from the State Bar of Michigan at their annual meeting in September 2006.<ref name="btl906" />
Montgomery accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pride Banquet and Awards Ceremony in Warren, Michigan on June 25, 2010.<ref name="btl610" />
In September 2012, the Woodhull Sexual Freedom Alliance honored Montgomery with its Vicki Sexual Freedom Award.<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2012/sex-and-politics/legendary-sexual-freedom-advocates-to-be-honored-for-dedication-to-establishing-sexual-freedom-as-a-fundamental-human-right/ |title = Legendary Sexual Freedom Advocate to be Honored for Dedication to Establishing Sexual Freedom as a Fundamental Human Right |last = Levy |first = Ricci J. |date = July 12, 2012 |publisher = Woodhull Freedom Foundation |access-date = July 20, 2016 |archive-date = August 19, 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160819095111/http://www.woodhullfoundation.org/2012/sex-and-politics/legendary-sexual-freedom-advocates-to-be-honored-for-dedication-to-establishing-sexual-freedom-as-a-fundamental-human-right/ |url-status = dead }}</ref>
In June 2019, Montgomery was one of the inaugural fifty American "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes" inducted on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) in New York City's Stonewall Inn.<ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/stonewall-inn-lgbtq-wall-honor|title=National LGBTQ Wall of Honor unveiled at Stonewall Inn|last=Glasses-Baker|first=Becca|date=June 27, 2019|website=www.metro.us|access-date=2019-06-28|archive-date=June 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628133313/https://www.metro.us/news/local-news/new-york/stonewall-inn-lgbtq-wall-honor|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="SDGLN">{{Cite web |url=https://sdgln.com/news/2019/06/19/national-lgbtq-wall-honor-be-unveiled-historic-stonewall-inn |title=National LGBTQ Wall of Honor to be unveiled at historic Stonewall Inn |first=Timothy |last=Rawles |date=June 19, 2019 |website=San Diego Gay and Lesbian News |language=en |access-date=April 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806031556/https://sdgln.com/news/2019/06/19/national-lgbtq-wall-honor-be-unveiled-historic-stonewall-inn |archive-date=August 6, 2019}}</ref> The SNM is the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ rights and history,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ebar.com/news/news//272833|title=Groups seek names for Stonewall 50 honor wall|website=The Bay Area Reporter / B.A.R. Inc.|language=en|access-date=2019-05-24}}</ref> and the wall's unveiling was timed to take place during the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sfbaytimes.com/stonewall-50/|title=Stonewall 50|date=2019-04-03|website=San Francisco Bay Times|access-date=2019-05-25}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * {{official website}} * [https://vimeo.com/92246156 Trailer for documentary about Montgomery, ''America You Kill Me''] {{Subject bar |portal1= Biography |portal2= LGBTQ | portal3= Michigan |d= y | d-search=Q6176175 | commons=y | q=y |s=y|s-search=Author:Jeffrey Montgomery}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Montgomery, Jeffrey}} Category:1953 births Category:2016 deaths Category:American gay men Category:Activists from Detroit Category:Michigan Democrats Category:LGBTQ people from Michigan Category:LGBTQ rights activists from Michigan