This is an amateur snapshot of the 1956 Christmas party of the New York Mattachine Society.
The group was founded earlier that year, and this is one of the few photos of their early days.
Way before Stonewall, the San Francisco demonstrations, and the LA activism, there was the Mattachine Society. These brave men organized and began a process that lighted the beacon that
led to our freedom. They demonstrated, passed out leaflets, wrote articles, and got the word out
that Gays are human beings of worth and dignity. We owe them a lot, perhaps everything.
From left to right: Konrad Stevens, Dale Jennings, Harry Hay, Rudi Gernreich,
ReplyDeleteStan Witt, Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland and Paul Bernard.
Never knew 60s pop-fashion designer Rudi Gernreich was involved in the Mattachine Society, only heard about Harry Hay. The others I know nothing about. That Christmas in 1956 must have been special for these men, some of whom were probably ostracized from their own families Holiday celebrations
or had to stay low-key as to not offend anyone. -Rj/IE
Thank you for the names! I should have looked them up, but I thought someone would post them, and you did.
DeleteOuthistory has a good write up on the Mattachine Society and Chuck Rowland. (he founded ACT UP) Also, Making Gay History and LGBTQ Nation have more info and history.
ReplyDelete- Rj