Harry Hay
Born: April 7th, 1912 - Worthing, in Sussex, England
Died: October 24th, 2002
In February 1930, at age seventeen, Hay reports: "I enticed an "older" gentleman (he must have been at least 33) to "bring me out" by finagling his picking me up in Los Angeles's notorious Pershing Square. Poor guy--he was appalled to discover, subsequently, that I was both a virgin and jailbait. Champ Simmons didn't really turn me on, but he was a very decent human being; he was gentle and kind and taught me a great deal."
He created the Mattachine Society, it was the first national gay rights organization that helped protect and improve the rights of homosexuals. Harry Hay created the Chicago-basedgroup in 1950, although the society expanded quickly and formed several branches across the country, the groups eventually went under because of political affiliations and more radical gay rights agendas. Harry Hay was known as the founder of the modern American gay movement. He devoted his life to progressive politics. He is also known in the American gay movement as the first person to apply the term minority to homosexuals.
Died: October 24th, 2002
In February 1930, at age seventeen, Hay reports: "I enticed an "older" gentleman (he must have been at least 33) to "bring me out" by finagling his picking me up in Los Angeles's notorious Pershing Square. Poor guy--he was appalled to discover, subsequently, that I was both a virgin and jailbait. Champ Simmons didn't really turn me on, but he was a very decent human being; he was gentle and kind and taught me a great deal."
He created the Mattachine Society, it was the first national gay rights organization that helped protect and improve the rights of homosexuals. Harry Hay created the Chicago-basedgroup in 1950, although the society expanded quickly and formed several branches across the country, the groups eventually went under because of political affiliations and more radical gay rights agendas. Harry Hay was known as the founder of the modern American gay movement. He devoted his life to progressive politics. He is also known in the American gay movement as the first person to apply the term minority to homosexuals.