Betty Santoro (April 26, 1938 – December 10, 2005), born Elizabeth Ann Botta, was an American educator, activist and community leader, based in New York City.
She was one of the organizers and keynote speakers at the 1979 March on Washington for lesbian, gay, and bisexual rights.
Her father managed a garage, and her mother worked in a silk factory.
[3] In 1979, she was one of the organizers of the March on Washington for gay rights, and a keynote speaker at the event.
[5][6] In 1978[7] and 1983,[8] she testified at public hearings in support of adding sexual orientation to New York City's human rights law, saying "it is both humiliating and degrading that we should have to stand here once again and try to convince anyone that we have suffered enough to deserve to be treated like human beings.