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Left to right: Lonn McIntosh, Morten Anzjon, and Jean Perry of the San Francisco Singles Ward, march to help promote the LDS AIDS Project during the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Day Parade, 25 June 1989, followed by the Affirmation San Francisco Chapter. Flamingo News, July 1989, p. 12. Enlarge

Lonn Allen McIntosh (March 3, 1960 - August 8, 1991)

From the Affirmation San Francisco Chapter's newsletter, the San Francisco Gayzette, September 1991.

Lonn was born in Ogden Utah to Jim and Helen McIntosh on March 3, 160. The family moved to Madera, California in 1963. Lonn's childhood was a happy one.

When Lonn was six, the family moved to San Pablo, California. The house by the creek in Sherwood Forest development was Lonn's favorite home of all the many places he lived.

Lonn was both bright and creative. His avid interest in the arts began to bud in elementary school. It was there Lonn learned to play the recorder.

During his 8th grade year, Lonn moved to Santa Clara to live with his Uncle Darrell and Aunt Donna so he could attend Mission Hill Junior High School and be a part of its Mentally Gifted Minor program. Upon graduation, he returned to live with his parents who had moved to Concord. There he attended Ignacio Valley High School Where his interests in music and drama were reawakened. He participated in several school plays. His pride and joy was in directing the senior class play, and singing tenor in the Madrigal Singers of IVHS.

When Lonn left school just five units short of graduating, he tried to get away from the negative influence of the fast-lane crowd he ran with joining Youth With A Mission (YWAM). He received discipleship training and participated in many short-term mission trips, but was released from long-term service when he admitted to his supervisors that he was gay. Subsequent efforts to minister and serve with YWAM were rebuffed and he returned to Concord an angry and disillusioned young man.

Alienated from his family with many false starts, overcome by drugs, Lonn ended up on the streets of San Francisco in deep despair. In 1986 friends from the Mormon Church in San Francisco helped him to sort out his life. They put him to work as a scout leader, which seemed to build up his self esteem.

In 1988, after being officially diagnosed with AIDS, Lonn's parents reestablished contact with him, and become positively involved in his life again. The final days of Lonn's heroic struggle with AIDS was assisted by family members, friends, and care givers.

Lonn is survived by his parents Jim and Helen McIntosh of Concord, CA, his sister and Brother-in-law, Terry and LaJeana Bowlby of West Pittsburgh, CA, his brother, sister-in-law and nephew, Loren, Sue and Joshua McIntosh of Antioch, CA, his grandpa, A. A. McIntosh of Wichita, KS, and extended family too numerous to mention.

Please add your own tribute by sending an email to James Kent.