CALIFORNIA: Longtime Palm Springs Activist George Zander Dies Weeks After Brutal Gay Bashing

The Desert Sun reports:

George Zander, who was a prominent activist in the Coachella Valley’s LGBT community, died Thursday, his husband said. Zander, 71, died “in loving arms and in very little pain,” his husband, Chris Zander, said in a Facebook post. “His passion and strength has paved the road for many of us to follow and build from. His legacy will live on forever. I love this man more than I love life itself. I can only assume that is what true love is.”

The cause of death was unclear. Desert Stonewall Democrats Chairwoman Ruth Debra said Zander was rushed to Desert Regional Medical Center Thursday morning and he died sometime between 7 and 7:30 a.m. “This was sudden. This was unexpected,” she said. “”All of us who are his friends are very sad and a little angry.” George Zander, who lived in Palm Springs for more than two decades, was regional field manager for Equality California.

Six weeks ago Zander suffered a double fracture to his hip in a brutal attack that was investigated as a hate crime. His husband suffered a concussion in the attack. Two suspects have been apprehended and are awaiting trial. It’s unknown if Zander’s passing is related to his earlier injuries.