William E. Woods, gay rights, community and political activist, died early yesterday after a long illness.

He would have been 59 on Oct. 9.

Regarded as “;the father of Hawaii's gay rights movement,”; Woods came to Hawaii in 1969 from Illinois.

He founded what is now known as the Gay and Lesbian Center and was its executive director for 17 years. He also founded and directed the Gay and Lesbian Education and Advocacy Foundation since 1990.

Woods married Lance W. Bateman on Aug. 31, 2003, in Vancouver, Canada.

He had long fought for passage of legislation to allow same-sex marriages in Hawaii.

Woods earned a master's degree in public health administration at the University of Hawaii and held various public health positions for many years, retiring about 12 years ago, Bateman said. He was past president of the UH School of Public Health Alumni Association and was trying to get the dismantled school restored.

Woods and Bateman both served on the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board and Woods was chairman for several terms. He resigned about three months ago because of his health, said Bateman.

Woods also was district chairman of the Democratic Party and both were on the party's central committee.

Woods also ran unsuccessfully for the state House from Kalihi in 2006.

Maryrose McClelland, who was chairwoman of the Kalihi Valley Neighborhood Board for 14 years, said, “;We're going to miss him because when something needed to be done, he would exert all the influence he could to get it done.”;

Scott Orton, HIV/AIDS awareness advocate, said Woods constantly worked “;to push forward civil unions”; and support HIV legislation.

Nancy Kern, STD/AIDS prevention coordinator in the state Health Department, said she didn't always agree with Woods or his strategies. “;But I gave him a lot of credit for the incredible energy he had. He was a tireless advocate.”;

Woods formed and ran a Honolulu Gay Support Group that meets Tuesday nights in Waikiki and just observed its 36th anniversary.

Bateman said Woods was head of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered Caucus in the state Democratic Party and helped with many other caucuses in the party.

As a measure of his devotion to civil rights, Bateman noted, he was the first male member of the Hawaii Federation of Business and Professional Women's Club and served as president of its Waikiki Chapter.

He also was heavily involved in environmental issues, Bateman said.

He said the best memorial for Woods would be “;to become or continue to be active in the fight for civil rights for everyone, (and) public health education in Hawaii.”;

Survivors besides Bateman include Woods' mother Mary Blanche, and brothers Robert and James.

  Plans are pending for a memorial service.