Aristide Joseph "A.J." Laurent was a U.S. Airman, writer, publisher, printer, and pioneer activist for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) communities. He clandestinely co-founded The Advocate —the oldest and largest LGBT publication in the United States—in the basement studios of ABC Television in 1967, two years prior to the infamous Stonewall Riots of NYC which marked the beginning of the gay liberation movement in America. Consisting primarily of clippings, photographs, correspondence, scrapbooks, and memorabilia, the Aristide J. Laurent Collection documents aspects of Laurent's personal life and advocacy involvement, and provides a unique perspective for considering the social and political history of the early LGBT rights movements.

Aristide Joseph "A.J." Laurent was born in Magnolia Springs, Alabama on September 15, 1941 to farm hand Duval "Buck" Laurent and Elizabeth "Betty" Weeks. He had one younger sister, Carol Elizabeth Weeks (1945-2010). After graduating from Weeks High School in 1960, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and served four years, first as a signals intelligence operator in Karamursel, Turkey and later as an instructor at the Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.

7.30 linear feet

Copyright for unpublished materials authored or otherwise produced by the creator(s) of this collection has not been transferred to California State University, Northridge. Copyright status for other materials is unknown. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.) beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Works not in the public domain cannot be commercially exploited without permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

The collection is open for research use.