Barbara Cameron has been in the headlines recently due to Google celebrating her birthday in the form of a Doodle. Google paying tribute to Cameron has gotten everyone interested to know who she was or what she has done to be celebrated by Google. Born in Standing Rock Indian Reservation on May 22, 1954, Barbara was an American photographer, poet, and human rights activist. Barbara finished high school and went to the Institute of American Indian Arts, followed by the San Francisco Art Institute, to major in photography. Cameron was in a relationship with a woman named Linda Boyd.
The couple shared a son, and Cameron helped in raising the son. Cameron is no longer with us as she left for her heavenly journey in the United States on February 12, 2002. The Doodle of Google featuring Cameron got released on 22 May 2022, where the photographer has a camera hanging around her neck.
Cameron also has pride flags with other women in the background representing other members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The whole doodle has San Francisco in the backdrop and is created by Sienna Gonzales, a queer artist, to honor the activist for her contributions to gay rights. Cameron was brought up in the care of her grandparents, and she came out as a lesbian in 1973, after which she made her move to San Francisco.
Career Of Barbara May Cameron
Cameron was the co-founder with Randy Burns of the Gay American Indians, founded in the 1975s; it was also the first organization dedicated to the liberation of the American Indians who were queer. Cameron revealed the reason for founding the organization was the difference in needs of the queer people belonging to the white community and the one from Native Americans.
During the time Cameron fought for the rights of Queer colored people, there was a lack of support in general for the people of color. The foundation had successfully managed to get 1000+ members by the end of the 1980s as Barbara participated in several activities to protect queer people of color and fight for their rights. Cameron’s participation in organizing the Lesbian and Gay Freedom Parade held from 1980 to 1985 is something queer people hold dear to them.
Cameron has also contributed to writing the book titled Bridge Called My Back and Right To Love: A Lesbian Resource Book. Cameron became the vice-president in the 1980s for Alice B. Toklas LGBT Democratic Club. Cameron, with a group of women, went to Nicaragua to study and show solidarity with the women living there. Cameron and the group of women who were known by the name of Somos Hermanans went there to help and improve the lives of the women living there.
Cameron was one of the most loved human rights activists of her time due to her contributions to the betterment of people of color. Cameron was the proud recipient of the Harvey Milk Award for her Community Service in 1992. Cameron is the first woman to be awarded the Bay Area Career Woman Community Service Award. Barbara spread her education on AIDS by traveling to various Indian reservations in the United States.
Cameron has worked with the board of directors of the San Fransisco AIDS Foundation and the American Indian AIDS. Cameron founded the Institute on Native American Health and Wellness, and she deserved the tribute Google planned for her. Cameron’s partner Linda worked with the artist of the Doodle to give an apt representation of Cameron and her contributions to the queer community. Doodle from Google was released on Cameron’s birthday, and her papers are held by the James Hormel LGBTQIA Centre situated in San Francisco.
Barbara May Cameron’s Death
Barbara died at the age of 47 on February 12, 2002, due to natural causes, and Tom Ammiano, San Francisco Board Of Supervisors, attended her memorial service. Cameron is still remembered by the folks for her advocacy for gay rights.
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