Leader of LGBTQ Caucus of Arizona Democrats dies

Arizona Democratic Party LGBTQ Caucus leader Ray Bradford died Monday. The caucus announced his death Monday evening on Twitter, but did not mention a cause.

Dozens shared stories on social media about Bradford’s fearless advocacy and charisma. They noted his devotion to helping homeless youth. The time he encouraged a friend to serve a Thanksgiving meal with him at a homeless shelter with a large number of transgender people. The enthusiasm his passion and fight sparked in others.

Olivia Cano-Wells from Goodyear said she reached out to Bradford in 2015 for advice on her son’s high school community service project. Her son got his aunts to make bean tostadas for the homeless with Bradford’s encouragement. He then added meat because Bradford insisted protein was needed.

“He didn’t let us stop,” Cano-Wells said with a laugh. “But every step of the way, he taught us.”

Her son’s effort to feed the homeless continues today, and Bradford continued to press. Most recently, he connected them to an attorney and encouraged them to organize as a nonprofit.

“What he did was connect people,” Cano-Wells said.

Bradford, an Illinois native, came to Phoenix in 1990 and has been impacting the community ever since.

He volunteered at one-n-ten, an LGBTQ youth empowerment organization, for nearly 10 years and then continued to volunteer helping homeless youth at Tumbleweed Youth Center, according to the caucus website.

Bradford had served in several positions for the Democratic Party from precinct committee person to fundraiser for Legislative District 24 Democrats.