'09
My favorite Golden Girl Bea Arthur died back in April of this year, after losing her battle with cancer. She had been a television and stage star for decades, and I was happy to hear that she had been smart with her money, which enabled her to live in comfort during her last years. She was so smart with money, she actually had a nice-sized estate when she died. Parts of her will have begun to become public, and we’re learning how Bea bequeathed her estate. As it turns out, Bea represented her beloved gay community (and they loved her right back) even in death. As per Bea’s will, she left $300,000 to the Ali Forney Center in New York. The Center houses LBGT kids, and with Bea’s donation, they will be adding a new property:
Late Golden Girls star Bea Arthur didn’t forget her gay fans in her will – the actress left $300,000 to help fund a shelter for homeless homosexual youths.
Arthur’s estate has bestowed the huge sum to the Ali Forney Center in New York, which helps home young members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) communities who have been disowned by their families.
Bosses at the charity have confirmed the money will go towards a new 12-person property, which is to be named in Arthur’s honor.
Ali Forney Center Executive Director Carl Siciliano says, “We work with hundreds of young people who are rejected by their families because of who they are. We are overwhelmed with gratitude that Bea saw that LGBT youth deserve as much love and support as any other young person, and that she placed so much value in the work we do to protect them, and to help them rebuild their lives.”
Arthur lost her battle with cancer in April. She was 86.
[From Starpulse]
The Ali Forney Center’s website states their mission is to simply provide a safe haven to LBGT teens. The site claims: “Tragically, as many as 25% of these teens are rejected by their families, and many end up homeless on the streets. Homeless LGBT teens are more likely than straight homeless teens to be subjected to violence on the streets, and in the homeless shelter system. They suffer from inordinate rates of mental illness, trauma, HIV infection and substance abuse.” How awesome is Bea Arthur? I love that represented her fan base in her will. The Ali Forney center even has a donation page where you can give directly to support the Bea Arthur Residence. Love it.
Photos are of Bea Arthur and Angela Lansbury on 12/9/08. Credit: PRPhotos
Written by Kaiser
Posted in Bea Arthur, Gay Issues, Good Causes, Good deeds, Money
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40 Responses to “Bea Arthur left $300,000 to support gay homeless teens”
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Someone should tell Madonna, this is how real charity is done.
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Very nice of her. Bea was a sweet lady.
I love Angela Landsbury!
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Thank you Bea! That was one classy lady.
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I just love her so much. Just the other night I (re) watched the Comedy Central Roast of Pamela Anderson. Bea puts on her reading glasses and takes us on a literary journey through some choice passages of of Anderson’s “Star Struck”. Priceless.
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She was one of the great ones, wasn’t she?
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Fire wrote: “I love Angela Landsbury!”
Me too. I just stumbled onto a DVD of ‘Bedknobs and Broomsticks’ the other day, she was wonderful. I know I am corney, but I just adore that movie and she was so fun in it.
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I always loved her. Still can’t believe she’s gone. What a good cause to contribute to!
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I totally admire her! She’s decided to contribute to such an important and unattended issue!
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I am grateful to this open minded and generous woman for her contribution to the GLBT community. My son’s partner is trans and is the most caring person I know, includes me in outings with my son and him. Even after being shunned and ostricized during his teen years by his family and peers, he still has a kind and loving heart. Thankfully, the younger generation are showing themselves to be more tolerant and accepting.
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Tia C. you took the words right out of my mouth. How freakin awesome is she? I have always loved her and I love her even more now.
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What a wonderful woman!
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Go Bea! I love to see people doing things to help the needy here in the US, and all this does is make me love Bea even more, which I never thought possible since Golden Girls is one of the best shows ever. What an awesome, awesome lady and this is just a testament to her huge heart. Love her!
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Tazina- you sound like a great person and mom! Your son and his partner are so lucky to have you!
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Again…You all beat me too it!!
She was an amazing Lady that is truly missed. What a great gift to give!!
I am from Utah and I cannot tell you how heartbreaking it is to meet someone who’s parents threw them out of the house because of their sexual orientation…Just kicked them out into the world with nothing….
**Thank you Mormon Church**
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@TaylorB- I LOVE BEDKNOBS AND BROOMSTICKS! One of my favorite movies as a child and an adult! You aren’t corney, you just have good taste!
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@birdie: “Someone should tell Madonna, this is how real charity is done. ”
*********************************
Madge doesn’t do anything without an agenda. Mostly it’s for media attention.
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I didn’t need another reason to love her, but here it is! Amazing woman!
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I love Bea!! I watch the Golden Girls *every* day. Love that it comes on Hallmark Channel for 3 hours in the morning and 3 hours at night! I cried when the very last episode was on the day after she died, before the marathons started running, and her speech when she’s leaving and is all “I’ll always love you, you’re my sisters, you’re angels” Oh it still makes me cry!!
A guy at my work is actually being kicked out of his house the day he turns 18 because he’s gay and his parents don’t approve. It’s so sad, he won’t get to finish high school, but luckily he has a plan in place for what happens like the day he turns 18.
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Caring and generous to the end. What a fantastic lady. I’ve long been a fan of hers and Golden Girls, and this only reaffirms that.
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Hopefully (although I doubt it) the generation leaving us will teach the younger generations how its done, with class .. Bea was a class act .. not many will follow in her footsteps.
It always makes me feel good to hear that actors / actress’ give back to community’s more should follow this, their incomes are crazy, our teachers should be getting paid that amount not some fool on the screen *off my soap box*. Thank you Bea for Being A FRIEND!!
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In b4 pickelhaube – as long as it’s for AMERICAN LGBT homeless teens.
Love Bea Arthur, she will truly be missed. As for the Bedknobs and Broomsticks love – count me in massively!
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What a wonderful thing, love Bea. (and love the Golden Girls) Such a great example of true generosity.
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Bea was a fantastic lady and role model. And Golden Girls rules!
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Sooooooooooooo nice to read nothing but sweet, positive comments about Bea and her gift!
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Coolest. Wummin. Evar!!!
(And Tazina seems pretty damn brilliant too
– there are certain actions that I can understand a parent distancing themselves from their children over, murder for example – although it never seems to happen, it’s always “someone else’s fault” – but the fact that they’re attracted to their gender or are transgender sure as sh*t ain’t one of them!)
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What a great woman. You are missed.
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Salute to this great woman!
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I loved her in Maude, she was fabulous I wanted her to be my mother. No subject was off limits the story-lines dealt with abortion, face-lifts and women over 40 with active sex-lives,sexual harassment – subjects that are usually taboo for today’s prime time viewing. I was a huge fan of Golden Girls too, she was an amazingly talented woman and now we know how kind and generous.
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Don’t you wish your girlfriend was hot like Bea?
I love her, always have, always will.
@Rosalee– because of her, those topics are NOT taboo for today’s prime time viewing; they are standard fare.
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I love how everyone said something nice – what a heartwarming tribute to a lady that gave the gift of laughter.
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Haha (the other one)…too late! Better luck next time though
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I too am the mother of a Gay daughter and could not be prouder of any human being on this earth. She is a 2nd Lt. in the ARMY and they are luckly to have her. Thank you Bea so much for getting it!!! Because I get you and always have. I hope I am lucky enough to meet you in the after-life…….Your my Hero!
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omg these two were dating? I had no idea!
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LOVE her. may her soul RIP,
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Like I didn’t have enough reasons to love her. What a classy icon.
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Wow that is quite a lot of money:)Bea Author was such a great person.
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God bless you Bea!
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I always loved Bea Auther,what’s more this is why I respected hen too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have never heard of this charity. But reading the statistics, it truly is sad. I’m glad she gave money to the charity but more than anything I’m glad she brought the spotlight to the charity so that others are aware and donate.
It’s a shame that parents turn their backs on their own flesh and blood due to their sexuality.
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she was a great actress and a very generous soul unlike trashy ones like Madonna who looks older than Bea if it wasn’t for all the plastic job.
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