Elke Kennedy

In the spring of 2007, Elke Kennedy's 20-year-old son, Sean, was murdered in a hate crime in Greenville, S.C. because he was openly gay. Since her tragic loss Elke has become a tireless advocate for LGBT rights, specifically regarding hate-crimes legislation. She founded a nonprofit in memory of her son called Sean's Last Wish Foundation and has traveled across the country sharing her story and helping people understand the importance of hate-crime protections for LGBT people in her own state of South Carolina and at the national level.