“Ann devoted her life to help change hearts and minds and bend the arc towards equality and fairness. We will miss her dearly.”
December 21, 2017
Today our movement lost a shining light, when Ann Kaner-Roth passed away at her home in Minneapolis. Ann was one of our community’s stars, a steadfast advocate for the LGBTQ families. Ann was a foundational leader of the marriage equality movement in Minnesota through her time leading Project 515 and then across the country, working with the ACLU.
Family Equality Council was privileged to have Ann serve as a member of our Board of Directors, from 2008 to 2012, and she remained close to the organization as she continued to work for the ACLU’s national marriage equality campaign, and then as Deputy Secretary of State in Minnesota. She lived in Minneapolis with her husband Marc, and her children Avia, Ari and Isa.
Tim FunkMeyer served on the Family Equality Council Board of Directors with Ann, and said today: “In addition to Ann’s board service to Family Equality Council, Ann worked as the executive director of Project 515 in Minnesota, and led the transformation of the conversation regarding family quality for LGBT families and ultimately marriage equality for all Minnesotans. I’m incredibly sad today, as Ann was a dear personal friend as well. My family will be forever grateful for her work on our behalf.”
Tommy Starling, also a fellow former Board member, wrote: “Ann devoted her life to help change hearts and minds and bend the arc towards equality and fairness. Her service to our community has been profound. In the process of fighting for equality, she forged many lifelong friendships. I was honored to call her a close friend and will miss her dearly.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Marc, the children, and all those who are mourning with us. Rest in peace, Ann.
