Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Finding Aid to the Brian R. McNaught Collection, 1974-1991 Coll2014.070
Coll2014.070
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Language of Material:
English
Contributing Institution:
ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries, University of Southern California
Title: Brian R. McNaught collection
creator:
McNaught, Brian
Identifier/Call Number: Coll2014.070
Physical Description:
0.2 Linear Feet
1 carton.
Date (inclusive): 1974-1991
Abstract: Writings, clippings, correspondence, and administrative records, 1974-1991, documenting gay activist Brian R. McNaught. McNaught
is a writer, spokesperson, and corporate consultant on gay and lesbian rights, sex education, and AIDS awareness. He has written
extensively on his experiences as a gay man, particularly in relation to his Irish Catholic identity.
Brian R. McNaught was born on January 28, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism
from Marquette University in 1970.
In the 1970s, McNaught served as president of the Detroit chapter of Dignity, a national organization of Catholic gays and
lesbians. In 1974, when it was revealed that McNaught was a member of Dignity, the column he wrote for The Michigan Catholic,
the newspaper of the Detroit archdiocese, was discontinued. He continued to work as a reporter for the newspaper, but was
eventually fired.
McNaught turned his focus to sex education and research on homosexuality, and he was certified as a sex counselor by the American
Association of Sex Educators in 1980. He became a syndicated columnist and writer for gay newspapers throughout the United
States, and became a spokesperson on gay and lesbian rights, particularly in relation to the Catholic Church. He developed
LGBT diversity workshops for corporations, and as of 2014 he continues to work as a spokesperson, writer, and consultant on
LGBT issues, sex education, and AIDS awareness.
As of 2014, he lives with his partner, Ray Struble, and the two divide their time between Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, and Provincetown,
Massachusetts.
Source: Guide to the Brian R. McNaught papers, circa 1970-2004, Collection #7590, Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections,
Cornell University Library. Accessed at http://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM07590.html (October 8, 2014)
LaReau, Renee. "One-time Catholic columnist now pioneer for gays in workplace." National Catholic Reporter, October 21, 2005.
Accessed at http://www.brian-mcnaught.com/pdfs/nationalcatholicreporter.pdf (October 8, 2014)
The collection is open to researchers. There are no access restrictions.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the ONE Archivist. Permission
for publication is given on behalf of ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives at USC Libraries as the owner of the physical
items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was separated from the ONE Subject Files Collection, Coll2012-001. Donor and date of acquisition unknown.
[Box/folder #, or item name] Brian R. McNaught Collection, Coll2014-070, ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives, USC Libraries,
University of Southern California.
Collection processed by Loni Shibuyama, September 2014.
This artificial collection comprises writings, clippings, correspondence, and administrative records, 1974-1991, documenting
gay activist, writer, and spokesperson, Brian R. McNaught. The bulk of the collection is clippings and manuscripts of McNaught's
gay newspaper columns, particularly "A Disturbed Peace" in which he writes about his experiences as an Irish Catholic gay
man. The correspondence and administrative records primarily document the activities of the Detroit chapter of Dignity, a
national organization of gay and lesbian Catholics, in which McNaught served as president.
This collection is arranged alphabetically.
Brian R. McNaught papers, #7590. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Catholic gays -- United States
Gay men's writings
Gays -- Correspondence
Homosexuality -- Religious aspects -- Catholic Church
McNaught, Brian
Dignity/USA