Donald Baker

Infobox_Scientist
name = Donald F. Baker
birth_date = birth date|1947|4|24|mf=y
birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
death_date = death date and age|2000|12|1|1947|4|24|mf=y
death_place = Boston, Massachusetts
residence = Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, U.S.
nationality = American (1947-2000)
work_institution = Dallas ISD
alma_mater = State University of New York at Cortland
known_for = Gay Rights, Baker v. Wade

Donald Floyd Baker (April 24, 1947 - December 1, 2000) was leading Gay Rights leader. He challenged Texas Penal Code 21.06 in the case Baker v. Wade. Penal Code 21.06 states "A person commits an offense if he [or she] engages in deviate sexual intercourse with another individual of the same sex." The case was taken all the way to the Supreme Court where it was ruled the case to be a state not a federal issue.

Biography

Early life

Don was born April 24, 1947 in Dallas, Texas, to J.W. and Mable Baker. He was the 2nd of 5 children born to J.W. and Mable. His siblings were: Linda King, Margaret Watt, Judith Baker, Carol Holt (in order of birth). As a youth he was in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

College and Early Adulthood

Once done with high school, Donald attended a few colleges before joining the US Navy. While in the Navy we was stationed in Bremerhaven, Germany and Guam. Once out of the Navy he finished his undergraduate degree at the State University of New York at Cortland.

Adulthood

After Donald's coming out he was removed as a teacher for the Dallas Independent School District. Two years later he was involved in Baker v. Wade. In 1987 Don began a relation with Michael Hartwig, which lasted until Don's death in 2000. The two would later move from Dallas, Texas to Connecticut and then later to Boston, Massachusetts. Donald was accepted into the Harvard School of Divinity.

Death

Don was diagnosed with bladder cancer which later spread throughout his body. A short time after being treaded for brain cancer Donald had a rapid decrease in health. He died December 1, 2000 in his bed. His partner Michael was at his side.