Category Archives: Minneapolis

Obituary: S. Eric Thomas, 56

S. Eric Thomas, obituary, gay news, Washington Blade

Original Nellies investor S. Eric Thomas (Photo courtesy of Tim Schoeffler)

S. Eric Thomas, an investor who helped start Nellies Sports Bar in Washington, died May 15 at Sibley Memorial Hospital after a battle with cancer of the kidneys, according to his friend Tim Schoeffler. He was 56, gay and had been a D.C. resident since 1983.

Thomas, a Minneapolis native, was the son of W. Lee Thomas and Jean McGrath Thomas and was born on Dec. 29, 1956, the second of five children. He graduated from Cook County High School in 1975 and the University of Minnesota in 1980.

Thomas worked as assistant press secretary to Minnesota Congressman Gerry Sikorski before becoming a PR consultant with the Fratelli Group where he became vice president. He continued there as a principal of the firm until his death.

Thomas is survived by his mother, sisters Leah Thomas, Carah Thomas, Emily Thomas and brother Matthew Thomas, and his nieces Molly Thomas, Sophia Anderson, Audrey Yukimura and Elise Yukimura.

A memorial was held at LongView Gallery in Washington on May 18. Doug Schantz, Nellie’s owner, gave the eulogy. About 350 attended. A memorial is planned in Thomas’s Grand Marais, Minn., hometown in June.

Donations may be made in his name to the Casey Trees Foundation (crowdrise/com/ericthomasmemorial) or the Cook County Historical Society (razoo.com/story/eric-thomas-memorial-fund).

Progress in Boise, Minneapolis

Boise, Idaho, gay news, Washington Blade

Boise, Idaho (Public domain photo by Jon Sullivan)

BOISE, Idaho — The Boise, Idaho City Council voted unanimously to pass a sexual orientation and gender identity non-discrimination law, covering employment, housing and public accommodations.

According to Boise television station KBOI-2, many members of the business community spoke up in favor of the new ordinance saying it could attract new companies to the city.

Further east, Minneapolis swore in lesbian Janeé Harteau as the city’s 52nd chief of police, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune.

“I will always stand up and do what is right, even if I stand alone,” Harteau said in a speech, while flanked by her partner Sgt. Holly Keegel and the couple’s 13-year-old daughter Lauren.