12/10/2021
Jonathan Cooper OBE is being mourned this week, with tributes flooding in from activists including Michael Cashman, Peter Tatchell and Jayne Ozanne. Cooper died with his husband at his side whilst walking in Scotland, says the newswire Pink News, which paid tribute to his “long and varied career”. With a keen legal mind, Mr Cooper was called to the bar in 1992, and worked tirelessly for the LGBTQIA Communities through the legal system in Britain and through international institutions. Speaking for the Stonewall Charity, Nancy Kelly said “He was at the *heart* of defending the rights of LGBTQ+ people around the world, with passion and talents beyond question, as well as a deeply kind and generous man.” Jamaican LGBTQIA people noted that Mr Cooper had been a key advocate of challenging the country's officially homophobic laws through the InterAmerican Court of Human Rights. Peter Tatchell paid tribute saying ““Jonathan showed kindness and support to everyone in need of legal help. He was a wonderful human being. I will miss him. I send my sincere condolences to his partner and loved ones.”
