The entertainment world is mourning the loss of June Lockhart, the beloved actress from “Lassie” and “Lost in Space,” who passed away at 100. While she is remembered by millions as a comforting television mother, her legacy includes a remarkably brave and early stand for LGBTQ+ acceptance, a moment that has resurfaced and gone viral in the wake of her death, showcasing her principles beyond the script.
In 1970, at a time when mainstream Hollywood was largely silent on the issue, Lockhart appeared on “The Virginia Graham Show.” The episode featured Reverend Troy Perry, the founder of the Metropolitan Community Church, which provided a spiritual home for gay and lesbian Christians who had been ostracized by their own congregations. This conversation occurred less than a year after the Stonewall riots, a pivotal moment in the fight for gay rights, when such topics were rarely discussed openly on television.
During the interview, Lockhart listened intently as Rev. Perry spoke about love and acceptance. When she spoke, her words were simple, clear, and revolutionary for the era. She asserted that no one has the right to judge another person’s life or identity, especially experiences they have never lived through themselves. It was a direct and empathetic rebuke of homophobia, delivered not by a radical activist, but by one of America’s most familiar and wholesome television personalities.
RIP June Lockhart. Woke at birth. pic.twitter.com/8Un570kE7F
— Staff Sergeant Johnson (@Colonel_Myway) October 25, 2025
This clip has found a new audience online, with viewers expressing admiration for her courage. Comments on social media have praised her as being “ahead of her time.” Her stance is particularly notable given her own background as a devout Roman Catholic. Lockhart’s advocacy demonstrated that faith and inclusivity could coexist, and her use of her platform to champion empathy during a less tolerant period cemented her status not just as an icon of television, but as a quiet pioneer for social progress.
