On Monday, August 16, the Los Angeles LGBT Center and our entire community lost a dear friend. Michael Epstein was a generous supporter of the Los Angeles LGBT Center for nearly 40 years. He also served on the Center’s Board of Directors from 1987–1994. He had an aggressive form of skin cancer and was suffering from mental health issues. Sadly, he took his own life.
Michael served on the board at a time when the Center was making a historic transition from a relatively small community center to a much larger, multi-faceted health and social services organization. He was among a small group of board members who helped steer the Center through that critical period. It seems hard to even imagine now, but legal equality and social justice were years away from becoming a reality for LGBT people, even here in “progressive” California.
Michael was one of that quiet band of activists who saw the bigger picture and took the longer view. He was a kind, funny, and loving man; never one to draw attention to himself or take center stage. Rather, the driving force behind his service was always a dedication to the Center and a deep commitment to our community.
That passion for the community in his public service was mirrored in his personal life by his longtime love and devotion to his husband, Scott Schwimer. Michael and Scott continued to support the Center long after Michael left the board. Today, our hearts go out to Scott and all those who share our sorrow in losing such a stalwart friend.
Scott understands how insidious mental health issues can be and how important it is for people suffering with such problems to get help. We encourage anyone struggling with mental health issues to seek help, especially during these particularly challenging times.
Michael and I were friends since 1986, we went out to dinner serval times together from 1986 to 1990 when he lived in a nice condo off Melrose Ave in Hancock Park in Los Angeles. Although our friendship endured mostly through emails up to the time of his passing, we did meet up a few more times for dinner in Studio City and West Hollywood in 2013 through 2016. I have never known Michael to be suffering from any mental health issues ever. He did tell me over dinner in Studio City about a car accident he had with his… Read more »
Please repent now that you are still alive and havetime. He’s lost. Nothing can be done to help him.
Tragic…
he should have done scientology auditing – by far the most effective mental health therapy on earth
Scientology? Effective?
Can you cite studies?
Michael’s dedication to the community was extraordinary, yet he was a very modest. He served on the Center Board not just during a time of incredible transition, but when the Board and the community was being decimated by the AIDS Pandemic. It was a time that extracted an incredible physical and emotional toll on the community and it was people like Michael that got us through.
Modest? He made websites devoted to how rich he was. not that this website will let me post such a comment.
Michael Epstein was a friend for 35 years, his generosity to the gay community was exemplary. Michael was generous of time, money and kindness. He was one of a kind, this is a huge loss for our community. He shall be missed by those who knew him and those whose lives he impacted whether they knew it or not.
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Angel. Hero. 🙏🏼🤍🕯💧
Your name is gibberish.