Coby Palmer, an Indianapolis LGBTQ+ advocate and founder of the HIV/AIDS fundraising group The Bag Ladies, died Sept. 25 at the age of 80. His death was announced in a Facebook post by the Indianapolis Bag Ladies.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Episcopal Church of All Saints. Memorial contributions can also be made to the Coby Palmer Food Pantry at the Damien Center.
Palmer, also known by his drag persona Queen Mother Blossom, started The Bag Ladies in 1981 as a way to celebrate Halloween: Palmer and his friends would dress in drag, hop on a bus and go on a crawl to local gay bars. The mission of The Bag Ladies changed in 1982 after Palmer took a trip to New York. There, he toured the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, one of the few organizations in the nation at the time working to combat the epidemic.
After returning to Indianapolis, Palmer used The Bag Ladies’ knack for throwing parties to host fundraisers. That year, the group raised $2,000, half of which went to the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and the other half to local organizations. Since then, the group has raised more than $3 million for HIV/AIDS service organizations.
“In 1982, we did Indy’s first fundraiser for HIV/AIDS,” Palmer said in a 2013 Indy Monthly interview. “Back then, some funeral homes wouldn’t take AIDS patients, and the newspapers would always say, ‘died of pneumonia.’ We went to the first local funeral, and we watched the casket being carried out by people wearing rubber gloves.”
At the time of publication, The Bag Ladies have not responded to a request for comment.
“Coby was a remarkable individual who touched the lives of many,” the Bag Lady Committee said in a Facebook post announcing Palmer’s death. “We will always cherish the memories, his warmth, kindness and his infectious spirit that will be deeply missed.
“In this difficult time, we are reminded of the strength and love that Coby brought to our lives,” the post continued. “He left an indelible mark on everyone he met, and his legacy will continue to live on through the many lives he touched.”
Along with his advocacy work, Palmer also owned Coby Palmer Designs, a flower shop, for over 25 years.
Hunter Vale, founder of the Queer Circle City Instagram page, which shares LGBTQ+ history, knew Palmer for about three years. Vale reached out to Palmer via Facebook to gauge his interest in sharing his own memories and stories. The pair frequently texted each other and met in person a handful of times.
“Every interaction I had with him, he was insightful and saw the importance of sharing that with younger generations,” Vale said. Vale described Palmer as the “nicest man you could ever meet” and said that his legacy will reflect that, as well as his work to reduce stigma and raise funds for HIV/AIDS.
“His work literally saved lives,” Vale said. “Because he had such foresight into what this crisis would turn into … his legacy is going to be that he really saved a generation. Many, many people perished, don’t get me wrong, but those actions of his early on did save lives, and I think that speaks for itself.”
The Damien Center, a community health center, named its food pantry after Palmer due to his work in ensuring that individuals living with HIV/AIDS had access to food and care.
“During the earliest days of the HIV/AIDS crisis, Rev. Canon Earl Conner looked to gather community groups to address the community’s needs, and Coby and the Bag Ladies stepped up,” Damien Center President and CEO Alan Witchey said in a statement. “Together, they created a welcoming home for those ostracized by their families and the community due to the stigma of HIV/AIDS.
In an Instagram post, IndyPride shared that Palmer “brought together friends and allies, transforming the lives of many through creative fundraising efforts for HIV/AIDS assistance. His commitment to the Damien Center exemplified his unwavering support for those in need, ensuring that everyone had access to vital resources and care.”
This story has been updated to include information about Palmer’s memorial service.
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