SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Yesterday during violent storms in several southern states, the home of long-time NCLR Legal Director Shannon Minter and his wife Robin was destroyed by a powerful tornado in rural Texas. The house also served as a refuge for the family of cats and dogs the Minters have taken in and nurtured over the years – many of whom were well known to the Twitter community through Shannon’s regular documenting of their lives on social media. 

NCLR’s Director of Communications and spokesperson Christopher Vasquez issued the following statement on behalf of the staff of the organization: 

“Our hearts at NCLR go out to our legal director Shannon Minter, one of the most inspiring and passionate legal minds in the LGBTQ movement. Right now our thoughts are with him, his wife Robin, and their expansive family of beloved cats and dogs that have provided much-needed light and levity to Twitter through some particularly tough years.

We are heartened to see the vast and generous outpouring of support for the Minter family in the last 24 hours through a barrage of messages and two separate GoFundMe campaigns. Shannon is one of the bravest and most resilient individuals we know and we are positive he will come out of this temporary setback stronger than ever, ready to continue fighting for our community.” 

A friend of Shannon’s has set up a GoFundMe campaign to help raise funds to assist him and Robin take care of their family of much-loved pets during this challenging time. 

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The National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) is a national legal organization committed to advancing the human and civil rights of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community through litigation, public policy advocacy, and public education. Since its founding 45 years ago, NCLR has maintained a longstanding commitment to racial and economic justice and the most underrepresented in the LGBTQ community. www.nclrights.org