Pioneering astronaut Sally Ride lost her battle with pancreatic cancer Monday, and the tail end of her obit casually mentioned that she was survived by "Tam O'Shaughnessy, her partner of 27 years."
Sally Ride's sister, Bear Ride, said the Rides consider O'Shaughnessy a member of the family: "I hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that another one of their heroes was like them."