Friends are mourning well-known and much loved Wellington gay community figure Trevor Lawler, who died suddenly at the weekend. The 67-year-old interior designer collapsed while at a party with gay friends at the weekend. He died from a heart attack, after battling a respiratory illness for the past three years. “It was really sudden at the end,” his partner of 17 years Steve Goslin says. “But he was surrounded by his friends, just having a good gay old time.” Lawler had been involved in gay organisations and events for many years, having had a hand in the Homosexual Law Reform movement. He was well-known on the gay party scene at its height in 90s and was a Trustee on the Chrissie Witoko Trust. Lawler had lived near Peka Peka Beach on the Kapiti Coast with Goslin, who says he was “one of a kind”, adding he had plenty of time to prepare himself for the loss due to his partner’s long illness, and has many memories from 17 years that “just flashed by”. Lawler is being cremated and his life will be celebrated at a gathering at the couple’s home this Saturday, which around 150 people, some from as far away as Perth, will attend. Goslin says his partner was so well known that news of his death has spread through the community through word of mouth, and adds he has plenty of support in his time of bereavement. GayNZ.com will have a full tribute to Lawler soon. You can, if you wish, pay tribute in the GayNZ.com forum
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 1st February 2012 - 2:13pm