BJ Bud Memorial Library – The mission of the BJ Bud Memorial Library is to collect, maintain, document and circulate gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer materials and information in a safe and accessible space, in order to promote understanding, an appreciation of diversity and history, and the value of communities. Click here for an online list of books presently available in the library.
BJ BUD
Friends and peers describe BJ Bud as a pioneer in the GLBT and women’s communities. Long before there was a western Express (the precursor to Echo) Bud launched Sunday’s Child, a newsletter for the GLBT community. She ran the publication for several years in the hopes of uniting the local community.
Bud was also the founder of the first Pride event in Phoenix in 1981. She actively participated in the next several Prides, running meetings out of her home.
As one of the founders of the Arizona Lesbian Gay Task Force, a Political Action Committee in the 1980’s Bub has a hand in local politics. She successfully coordinated protests against Jerry Falwell and helped oust a bigoted Maricopa County Supervisor.
Bud managed to have her hand in many equality pies and did it all with great passion. She dies on Feb.14 1996. In her obituary for Echo Magazine, Bob Hegyi wrote, “BJ was a hero for human rights. She was short in stature with the shoes of a giant.”
Courtesy of Echo Magazine “ARIZONA HIS AND HERSTORY” published October 5 2006
