Morris Kight : humanist, liberationist, fantabulist : a story of gay rights and gay wrongs / Mary Ann Cherry.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Cherry, Mary Ann, author.

Contributor:

Commins-Holman Family Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Kight, Morris, 1919-2003.

Kight, Morris.

Gay activists--United States--Biography.

Gay activists.

Gay rights.

Gay men.

United States.

Genre:

Biographies.

Physical Description:

424 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Port Townsend, WA : Process Media, 2020.

Summary:

"His activist work began in the 1930s as a teenager. As the only male living in his mother's Texas brothel, he secretly helped women working there get vital healthcare. During the 1950s, he was part of an underground network of gay 'safe houses' that provided bail, health care, and legal advice at a time when the United States had laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. He turned his unique charisma and organizing skills to the 1960s anti-war movement and then working the rest of his life in the now public fight for "Gay Liberation." He fostered vital relationships with fellow activists, politicians, socialites, and gangsters. His style of organizing and activism showed the power of the "influencer" decades before social media brought millions together with a meme. He founded groups that lead seminal protests that resulted in: The American Psychiatric Association removing homosexuality as a disease from its diagnostic manual, protecting civil rights for gay citizens in California, and reducing police violence against the gay community. And for every good thing Kight did, he took credit for more. He was a man who, with his many flaws, managed to alienate as many people as he brought together. His story brings to life his work as remembered by those who loved and loathed him." --Amazon.com.

Contents:

Pt. 1 Before Gay Was Okay

Proud Southerners p. 11

Bessie p. 15

The Best Thing to Ever Happen p. 33

Pt. 2 Before Gay Rights There Were Gay Wrongs

Land of Enchantment p. 47

Kight Family Museum p. 61

Pt. 3 Before Gay Rights

Angels of the City p. 73

Dow Shall Not Kill p. 97

Home to be Free p. 133

Pt. 4 Gay Pride

Gay Liberation Front p. 139

Gay Community, Gay Services, Gay-Centered p. 261

Gay-gencies p. 313

Pt. 5 The Proud Generation

A Doddering Old Man p. 356

The Venerable p. 377.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical resources and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Commins-Holman Family Fund.

ISBN:

9781934170809

1934170801

OCLC:

1162694793

Publisher Number:

99985016714