IV 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 436 
Mourning the loss of Bea Arthur, celebrating her life and work, and honoring 
her many contributions to equality and social justice for all Americans. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 13, 2009 
Mr. POLIS of Colorado submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform 
RESOLUTION 
Mourning the loss of Bea Arthur, celebrating her life and 
work, and honoring her many contributions to equality 
and social justice for all Americans. 
Whereas Beatrice ‘‘Bea’’ Arthur was born Bernice Frankel 
on May 13, 1922, in New York, New York; 
Whereas Bea Arthur studied at the Dramatic Workshop at 
the New School in New York through 1947; 
Whereas Bea Arthur began her professional career off Broad-
way in 1948 and worked consistently for seven decades 
on the stage and screen; 
Whereas Bea Arthur has played numerous beloved roles on 
the Broadway stage including Yente in ‘‘Fiddler on the 
Roof’’ and Vera Charles in ‘‘Mame’’, the latter of which 
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•HRES 436 IH 
earned her the 1966 Tony Award for Best Featured Ac-
tress; 
Whereas Bea Arthur portrayed Maude Findlay, an outspoken 
feminist, in the television comedy ‘‘Maude’’ from 1972 
until 1978, earning an Emmy Award for Best Actress in 
1977; 
Whereas Bea Arthur portrayed Dorothy Zbornak, a teacher 
and activist, in the television comedy ‘‘The Golden Girls’’ 
from 1985 until 1992, earning an Emmy Award for Best 
Actress in 1988; 
Whereas the professional accomplishments of Bea Arthur are 
many and she received great acclaim for her talent 
throughout her career including dozens of awards and 
nominations; 
Whereas Bea Arthur used her fame to advocate for social jus-
tice for all Americans, especially women, gays and les-
bians, and people suffering from HIV and AIDS; 
Whereas Bea Arthur confronted issues in her roles that chal-
lenged taboos, including a woman’s right to choose, 
spousal abuse, alcoholism, depression, and the con-
sequences of the Vietnam War; 
Whereas Bea Arthur was especially supportive of the gay, les-
bian, bisexual, and transgendered communities both per-
sonally and professionally; 
Whereas decades before the GLBT rights movement made 
significant progress, Bea Arthur supported recognition 
and equality for gays and lesbians; 
Whereas Bea Arthur declared in 2001, ‘‘Gays are not stereo-
types; they are people!’’; 
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•HRES 436 IH 
Whereas, on April 25, 2009, Bea Arthur died peacefully in 
her sleep at her home in California after a long battle 
with cancer; and 
Whereas her life was dedicated to entertaining Americans 
and bringing to light issues that affect us all: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives mourns 
the loss of Bea Arthur, celebrates her life and work, and 
honors her many contributions to equality and social jus-
tice for all Americans. 
Æ 
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