Sussex Pride joins the community in mourning the passing of Norma Eckard. Norma was a friend, a parent, an ally, an advocate, and a beautiful and fun person to spend time with.
Norma was actively involved with Sussex Pride and worked in coalition with organizations including Speak Out Against Hate (SOAH), Bulletproof Pride, Indivisible, and the Working Families Party, focusing on anti-hate advocacy, community safety, and LGBTQIA+ visibility. She is the founder of PRIDE 365, a grassroots LGBTQIA+ advocacy organization established in Texas, and a co-founder of Trans Fam, a support network dedicated to uplifting and protecting transgender individuals and their families. She was the featured speaker at last year’s Butterfly Bolt, an event held by What is Your Voice, Inc., and spoke powerfully about domestic violence.
Norma was the Congregational Administrator at UUSD Unitarian Universalists of Southern Delaware where she also served on the Social & Environmental Justice Committee and the Welcome Committee, helping build inclusive, justice-centered spaces rooted in care, belonging, and collective responsibility.
Many also know Norma as a parent to Vienna Cavazos and we could not imagine there being a more loving or supportive parent
The family asks for privacy at this time, but please know, when there is an opportunity to gather together to celebrate Norma’s life, we will be sure to let you know.
If you were close to Norma, and would like individual or group support, please reach out to Sussex Pride and let us know.