01 Feb 22

Jonny Cooper Appeal Fund Letter

On behalf of Joint Head of Chambers, Edward Fitzgerald QC:

We have all mourned the loss of Jonny Cooper, barrister, LGBTQ+ campaigner and human rights activist world-wide, who was a friend and inspiration to so many of us. The many obituaries and messages of condolence have recognised Jonny’s long and dedicated service throughout his incredibly busy life to the cause of human rights, justice and equality for gay people, and his work for those suffering discrimination and oppression throughout the world. His influence was everywhere. His tireless and fearless work led to changes in the law that he personally helped to shape and champion, successful test case challenges that he helped to shape and guide through the courts, and in the righting of countless individual injustices as a result of his humane and compassionate intervention. He was also truly an inspiration to many young lawyers and human rights activists who sought his advice and guidance, and who have acknowledged their massive debt to him personally.

As many of you will know, most of Jonny’s work was pro bono, and he was never one to count the cost, or to put his own financial needs before the needs of those he helped and counselled, championed and fought for. This took its toll. In all his work, he was supported emotionally and spiritually by his wonderful husband Kevin, himself a writer and great champion of LGBTQ+ rights, and a fearless collaborator with Jonny in much of what he did.

We are today launching an appeal for donations to help support Jonny’s husband Kevin, after Jonny’s sudden and untimely death from a heart attack in September 2021.

As with any sudden death, the impact on the partner left behind can be profound and all the more so when that person was not the primary bread winner. Kevin supported Jonny gladly and fully with his work throughout their partnered and married life, but now finds himself jolted into making a transition to coping alone financially which is a difficult one to make in the absence of any funding. With no financial buffer to support this, this transition will be hard. This appeal, therefore, is about helping Kevin make that transition and helping him find a new equilibrium to continue his own life and work, and to also, where possible, pick up and continue the work which Jonny started.

Any donation you feel able to make will help support him, as Jonny would undoubtedly have wanted us to do, and offer the assistance which Jonny can no longer offer.