November
11, 1950
First
Gay Liberation Organization
The Mattachine Society was
founded in Los Angeles as the first gay liberation organization. The
organizational meeting took place at the home of Harry Hay at 2328 Cove Avenue,
with Rudi Gernreich, Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland and Dale Jennings completing the gathering
Harry Hay conceived of the
idea of a gay activist group in 1948. After signing a petition for Progressive
Party presidential candidate Henry A. Wallace, Hay spoke with other gay men at
a party about forming a gay support organization for him called "Bachelors
for Wallace" Encouraged by the response he received, Hay wrote the
organizing principles that night, a document he referred to as "The
Call".
Mattachine was originally
organized in similar structure to the Communist Party, with cells, oaths of
secrecy and five different levels of membership, each of which required greater
levels of involvement and commitment. As the organization grew, the levels were
expected to subdivide into new cells, creating both the potential for
horizontal and vertical growth.
Born in 1950?
Then
congratulations for turning 65 and entering the world of Medicare. If you
would like to know more about the maze we call Medicare …
