December 10, 2011 | Sex & Society

Marriage activist dies waiting for Prop 8 repeal

Ed Watson, 78, passed away this week due to complications from Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and hypertension.

Watson was a prominent activist in the fight for marriage rights in California. He and his partner, Derence Kernek, were hoping to see Prop 8 overturned so that the two could wed legally. Watson wanted desperately to marry Kernek before Alzheimer's took away his ability to remember his partner's face.

"It's ironic that he died on the eve of appeals about peripheral issues around a case that should have been settled more than a year ago," said Richard Jacobs, chairman and founder of the gay rights advocacy group Courage Campaign. "None of this will matter to Ed or Derence."

Prop 8 had been ruled unconstitutional by US District Judge Vaughn R. Walker in 2010, but supporters of the ban on gay marriage were able to secure a suspension of his decision until the case was heard by a higher court.

Kernek and Watson videotaped a plea to the 9th Circuit in March, hoping the court would support Judge Walker's ruling. But now its too late for the couple.

"Just wanted to let you know that Ed passed at 22:15 this evening," Kernek, 80, said in an email to friends and supporters. By not being able to legally marry, Watson could not benefit from Kernek's retirement plan, resulting in financial hardships.

A very sad reminder of why this fight is an important one for so many.

He Died Waiting to Get Married [The Huffington Post]