Texas LGBTQ+ Activist Kirk Myers-Hill Dead at 54

South Dallas has a deep sadness over the unexpected death of a nonprofit founder, community leader, and activist.

Kirk Myers-Hill, founder and CEO of Abounding Prosperity Inc. and president of Dallas Southern Pride, died on Tuesday.

Abounding Prosperity Inc. staff confirmed the leader’s death online.

“It is with deep and profound sadness that we announce the passing of Mr. Kirk D. Myers-Hill, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Abounding Prosperity, Inc. and President of Dallas Southern Pride,” the organization wrote, noting that he “was a tireless advocate for the health and wellness of the Black family, particularly Black LGBTQ+ community members in Dallas. His contributions to the community will be deeply missed.”

With a mission to address social and health disparities that are devastatingly impacting Black men and their families in Dallas County, Abounding Prosperity was founded in November 2005. Myers-Hill founded the group with his late mother Irene H. Trigg-Myers, who died in 2018.

The organization’s mission is to provide health, social, and economic services to Black Americans, focusing on gay and bisexual men, cisgender women, transgender women, and their families.

The community leader was found unresponsive in his office, Dallas ABC affiliate WFAA reports.

According to the Dallas Police Department, officers were called to the location at about 9:30 a.m. However, when officers arrived, Myers-Hill had already died. The cause of his death is currently under investigation as an unexplained death.

News of Myers-Hill’s passing inspired the LGBTQ+ advocacy group GLAAD to post to its social media accounts in his memory.

“Our hearts are with his husband, family, friends, and the community of Dallas, Texas,” GLAAD tweeted.

Dallas Southern Pride invites the community to attend a community vigil and balloon release scheduled for Saturday in Dallas to celebrate Myeres-Hill’s life.