Mattachine Society
| Line 2: | Line 2: | ||
[[Category:Pages Needing Attention]] | [[Category:Pages Needing Attention]] | ||
[[File:Matta1.jpg|thumb|Mattachine Society]] | [[File:Matta1.jpg|thumb|Mattachine Society]] | ||
| + | [[File:Matta2.jpg|thumb|Mattachine founders]] | ||
The '''Mattachine Society''' was one of the first publicly-outspoken LGBT advocacy groups in recorded history. | The '''Mattachine Society''' was one of the first publicly-outspoken LGBT advocacy groups in recorded history. | ||
Revision as of 16:48, 16 September 2014
The Mattachine Society was one of the first publicly-outspoken LGBT advocacy groups in recorded history.
The original Mattachine Society was founded in 1951 by, among others, fashion designer Rudi Gernreich, Mr. Gernreich's partner Harry Hay, and playwright Dale Jennings.
The name Mattachine came from a historical French secret society. The etymology comes from old Arabic "mutawajjihin" or mask-wearer.
The Society was originally named (in public) the Society Of Fools and was billed as an organization for male bachelors. It had loose ties to the US Progressive political party.
The Society gained notoriety in the mid 1950s by campaigning and demonstrating against entrapment of gay men in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The San Francisco chapter supported the formation of the Daughters of Bilitis, one of the first lesbian advocacy organizations.
Chapters were established in New York, Washington, DC, and Chicago in the late 1950s.
The national organization fell apart in the early 1960s due to internal issues but most of the chapters continued independent operation.
Cold War years and the Red Scare
Several of the original Mattachine Society members were also active in the American Communist Party, even though the latter prohibited gay members at the time. The Society appeared on lists of "subversive organizations" published by various anti-Communist groups.
Ironically, during the 1970s, the Society gained the reputation of being too staid and conservative, and not aggressive and confrontational enough to be effective. Lacking any remaining central organization, the various chapters eventually fell apart.
Publications
ONE Magazine was the main publication of the Mattachine Society, published monthly.
