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NY Times Obituary
Heather MacAllister died yesterday in Portland Oregon as a result of Ovarian Cancer. She was 38 years old. Ms. MacAllister was the founder and artistic director of Big Burlesque and the Fat Bottom Revue, the first burlesque act exclusively featuring large-sized performers. Tours included New York, San Francisco, Canada, Los Angeles and various venues in the Midwest, east and west coasts Aside from her career in the performing arts, Ms. MacAllister had a Degree in Anthropology and worked for many non-profit groups such as Triange Foundation, Michigan's statewide civil rights organization for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender population. She also committed a great deal of time to Antiracism training. Ms. MacAllister was also an advocate for the transgender population and also for the rights of large-sized people. She helped to inspire the anti-size discrimination law passed in San Francisco in June 2000. One her proudest achievements was to help coordinate a summit that included mainstream conservative Muslim and Arab organizations at the same table as radical gay rights organizations in order to show and share common cause in the civil rights offenses that occurred post 9/11. She also served on the board of Directors of Al-Fatiha the nations only national organization for sexual minority Muslims. In 2005 Leonard Nimoy photographed Ms. MacAllister and her dance troupe for his exhibit "Maximum Beauty" which opened at the Bonni Benrubi gallery on 57th street in New York City. Ms. MacAllister is survived by her Grandmother Doris Simion and her two sisters, Hope MacAllister and Holly Jones. Memorial services are taking place in New York, San Francisco, Portland and Michigan |