‘He knew the future could be better for anyone identifying under the rainbow’: LGBTQIA2S+ advocate remembered

LGBTQIA2S+ advocate Martin Withenshaw of London has passed away. CTV’s Sean Irvine speaks to people who knew him and the legacy he leaves behind.

London’s LGBTQIA2S+ community is mourning the loss of one of its most prominent leaders.

Martin Withenshaw, who died on Nov. 17, was a champion for rights in a time there were few supporters.

“I grew up here, and it was very different when I was growing up here 40 years ago,” recalled Withenshaw in a 2021 interview with CTV News. “I find it a lot more welcoming now, but there are always things that need to be done.”

Getting things done was Withenshaw’s mantra in life.

Some friends concede that at times he could be “bossy,” but more often he was “full of love.”

In his lifetime, Withenshaw was known as a business owner and advocate for those seeking employment. He was also a regular guest on the former CTV News London morning show New Day (later A-Morning) throughout the late 1990s and 2000s.

But it was Martin’s work in the LGBTQIA2S+ community that stood out, according to friend and fellow advocate Lori Ward.

She sought Withenshaw’s guidance in 2010 when one of her children came forward to express their sexuality. With Martin’s encouragement, she later became the president of the London chapter of PFLAG, an organization that helps those struggling with sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

“If it wasn’t for this generation that Martin grew up in, maybe our children wouldn’t have the chances they do now,” Ward told CTV News. “He knew the future could be better for anyone identifying under the rainbow. And he was going to make sure he did everything he could to make sure there was a brighter future for the community.”

Martin’s legacy includes taking the London Pride Festival to the next level, according to longtime president Andrew Rosser.

“He was able to lead Pride London Festival into Victoria Park, and that had never been done, and it’s now been in Vic Park for 15 years,” he said.

Withenshaw was the recipient of multiple awards during his lifetime, but none greater than when he was selected as the grand marshal of the Pride Parade in 2019 while Rosser was president.

It was there that he told CTV News he embraced his role as an advocate, while pushing for other groups to speak up.

“The two-spirit community needs to speak for themselves. I can’t speak to them because I’m not a two-spirited person,” he said. “The same as I can’t speak for the lesbian community. They must come and speak for themselves. That’s the one thing people need to realize, that each group has its own message.”

Withenshaw’s call to action escalates with his passing.

And while his voice is now silent, Ward is confident his legacy will be remembered by Londoners for decades to come.

“He was a hero in London,” Ward said. “And he did it without any selflessness or looking for any accolades.”

Martin Withenshaw leaves behind Tom, his husband and partner of 38 years, along with family members and countless friends.

A memorial service will take place on Friday at 1 p.m. at the A. Millard George Funeral Home, located at 60 Ridout St. S.