Jennifer Gale --- An Austin Treasure
Austin has it’s fair share of eccentric characters. And if you’ve ever seen or been to an Austin City Council meeting, then you know who Jennifer Gale was.
Gale was a perennial Austin mayoral candidate, transgendered, homeless person. Gale was infamously known for presenting her arguments in song during city council meetings.
Gale was at yesterday’s City Council meeting, where she sang Silent Night to the City Council:
Whatever you thought of Jennifer, she almost always made you smile.
Before she became “Jennifer”, Gale was a proud United States Marine. So far, no cause of death has been announced.
Here’s the breaking story from the Austin American-Statesman; a really sad local news story:
Jennifer Gale, one of Austin’s most colorful characters and perennial political candidates, has been found dead in Central Austin, authorities said today.
Gale, who was homeless and was a candidate in the upcoming mayoral race, was found sleeping outside the First English Lutheran Church at 3001 Whitis Avenue by a worker about 6 a.m. today, Fire Department spokeswoman Michelle DeCrane said.
The worker returned about an hour later, thought Gale might be in distress, and called 911, DeCrane said.
Austin firefighters at a nearby station responded and began performing CPR, DeCrane said.
Gale routinely attended Austin City Council meetings, county commissioners court and school board meeting, often presenting her political arguments in song. On Tuesday, she sang “Silent Night” at a city health and human services subcommittee meeting.
Jennifer had a spirited determination to make Austin a better place. And now Austin’s a little lesser without her.
__________
UPDATE — There’s a follow up story (still no cause of death reported) here at the Statesman, including this:
Council Member Mike Martinez, who was at Tuesday’s meeting when Gale sang “Silent Night,” said he was stunned to hear about her death.
By Wednesday afternoon, Martinez and other council members were planning a possible tribute. One possibility, he said, was dedicating a bench in her honor in the park where she slept. Martinez also noticed on the council’s agenda that Gale had requested to address the group this week.
During that scheduled time, Martinez said he plans to play a video of Gale singing “Silent Night,” followed by a moment of silence.
I think the bench is a fantastic idea.
Thanks to Karl-Thomas Musselman at Burnt Orange Report for setting up a donation page in honor of Jennifer Gale, with proceeds going to House The Homeless, Inc., an educational and advocacy group, founded in Austin, TX in 1989.
UPDATE II — Early reports are that Jennifer died of cardiac arrest.
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I know people like Jennifer and Leslie Cochran have, er, unique lifestyles. But God help me, I love them. It’s what makes Austin Austin. Sorry to hear about Jennifer. I didn’t know she/he was once a Marine. Semper Fi!
Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!)
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight in his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
An Angel writing in a book of gold:
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold,
And to the Presence in the room he said,
“What writest thou?” The Vision raised its head,
And with a look made of all sweet accord
Answered, “The names of those who love the Lord.”
“And is mine one?” said Abou. “Nay, not so,”
Replied the Angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still; and said, “I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men.”
The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again with a great wakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blessed,
And, lo! Ben Adhem’s name led all the rest!
— James Leigh Hunt (1859)
Go with God, Jennifer. Semper Fi!
Gale was mentally ill. It’s not cute and it’s not something that should be praised.
I do not wish to speak ill of Gale in death.
To me, embracing someone like this as an eclectic member of Austin society, is indicative of how strange Austin is.
Keep it weird, if you chose.
It’s one of the reasons I left, and will never return.
Jennifer Gale wasted hours of our City Council’s time and money. He/She played us, plain & simple. Unless he/she was stupid, he/she sure thought we were.
I want everyone to read the comments made by “Anonymous” and “No2 liberals”. These are examples of the sort of thoughtless, insensitive, inaccurate and moronic sentiments that we as a nation should leave behind us with all of the other despicable “-isms” and phobias of the 20th Century (racism, gender-ism, fascism, age-ism, homophobia, etc.). I call these appalling pissings on her memory “other-ism”; you lily-livered, sad, predictable souls would do well to reflect on what you have carved on the tombstone of a fellow human being. Shame on you both.
Mike L, go fuck yourself.
I don’t glorify people that are mentally unstable as some sort of local hero, and is one reason some of us don’t celebrate the “keep Austin weird” bullshit.
me caveman me no like libberalz me only like me’s football team da cunservativz
I already knew you were a silly shit, Mikey, but thanks for removing all doubt.
look, austin is a liberal place. it’s unique. if you dont like it, leave. austin will be better off without you. i guarantee it. go shack it up in the burbs outside of houston somewhere and quit paying attention to whats going on in austin, if you really dislike it so much. go on, get.
Mr. Mister, if you are referring to me, you should work on your reading comprehension.
I left a long time ago, and have never returned, not even for a visit.
I’m encouraged that Austin has become more conservative, but not enough for me.
If you are capable of grasping this, the owner of this blog is most definitely conservative, but he is the one who wrote this favorable post about this mentally disturbed person found dead, not I.
If, to you, liberalism means glorifying the deranged, then you have justified my nic…again.
Just wanted to remind everyone… Jennifer was a human being. What she did she did with an intention of improving the world. Without doubt she was troubled and it sadly speaks poorly of how we take care of our ex-military, of our mentally ill, of our homeless populations. The tragedy is the lack of concern for what happened to a human that had heart and had feelings and had a reason for going on. Argue your politics and your view of the world but at the end of the day, Jennifer was someone’s child, someone’s friend… fill your hearts with empathy and with respect instead of ignorant hate and ridicule.
me no2libberalz think me sooooo smart cuz me hate everrybuddy that dont hate me smart smart!!! i telling yu
So, Mikey, in the event no one has told you, self-medicating is dangerous. They could find you dead on the street, one day.
/just sayin’
Jennifer Gale was the kind of person we could all learn something from, including myself. I had the pleasure to meet her in person and I honestly admired her courage, sincerity, vibrance, love and obviously very forgiving nature. How very sad that the people who hate her in the name of whatever they can find to justify it don’t even realize that they themselves are the sad epitome and fall of our society.
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