George Choy papers, 1978-1992

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Summary

Creators:
Choy, George, 1960-1993 Choy, George
Abstract:
Extent:
3.8 linear feet (2 manuscript boxes and 1 oversized folder)
Language:
Preferred citation:

George Choy papers. GLBT Historical Society

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains materials related to the life and activism of George Choy, a gay Chinese-American graphic designer and prominent member of Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) and GAPA Community HIV Project (GCHP). Correspondence, meeting agendas and minutes, speeches, printed materials, and photographs document the work of GAPA and GCHP, particularly in 1991. Among these records of activism are correspondence, printed materials, and photographs documenting OCCUR’s visit to San Francisco, Choy’s trip Japan, and OCCUR’s court case. Limited personal materials, including photographs of family and friends, a small folder of correspondence and writings, a resume, a 1978 high school yearbook, help to illuminate Choy’s biography.

Biographical / historical:

George Choy (February 6, 1960-September 10, 1993) was a gay Chinese-American activist, graphic designer, and prominent member of Gay Asian Pacific Alliance (GAPA) and GAPA Community HIV Project (GCHP). Born in San Francisco in 1960, Choy grew up across the street from the International Hotel in San Francisco’s Chinatown neighborhood. He attended San Francisco Public Schools and graduated from Mission High School in 1978. He earned a B.A. in Graphic Design from San Jose State University. Choy became a member of GAPA in 1989, and later co-edited GAPA’s newsletter Lavender Godzilla, served on the Board, helped to lead the Political Awareness Committee, and acted as a liaison to HIV/AIDS organizations, including GCHP. In May 1990, he rallied community support for Project 10—a counseling program for LGBT teenagers in public high schools—for a hearing held by the San Francisco Board of Education. Choy also played a central role in building ties among GAPA, GCHP, and the Japanese gay rights organization OCCUR. He helped to host OCCUR members during their visit to San Francisco in June 1991, joined a contingent of GAPA members on a visit to Japan later that year, and helped to mobilize support from San Francisco’s lesbian and gay rights movement for OCCUR’s lawsuit against the Tokyo government, which was publicized at the time as the first gay rights case in Japanese history. Choy was heavily involved in GCHP, too, serving on its board and eventually joining its staff as Outreach Coordinator in 1992. He was awarded a Godzy Award for his contributions to GAPA in 1992. Choy passed away at the Maitri Hospice on September 10, 1993.

Acquisition information:
The collection was donated to the GLBT Historical Society by Prescott Chow in 1995.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Funding for processing this collection was provided by the National Archives' National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Terms of access:

All requests for reproductions and/or permission to publish or quote from material must be submitted in writing to the GLBT Historical Society Archivist. Permission for reproductions and/or permission to publish or quote from material is given on behalf of the GLBT Historical Society as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder. Transmission or reproduction of materials protected by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. Responsibility for any use rests exclusively with the user.

Preferred citation:

George Choy papers. GLBT Historical Society

Location of this collection:
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, CA 94103, US
Contact:
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
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