Burt Gerrits papers
Finding aid created by GLBT Historical Society staff using RecordEXPRESS
GLBT Historical Society
2023
989 Market Street, Lower Level
San Francisco, California 94103
(415) 777-5455
reference@glbthistory.org
http://www.glbthistory.org/
Title: Burt Gerrits papers
Dates: 1975-1998
Collection Number: 1994-26
Creator/Collector:
Gerrits, Burt
Extent: 1.95 linear feet
Repository:
GLBT Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94103
Abstract: Burt Gerrits (1923-2008) was born in South Dakota, and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1941. He served during WWII
in the Navy, and his recollections of Navy life as a gay man were included in historian Allan
Bérubé
’s book Coming Out Under Fire. The bulk of the Burt Gerrits papers consist of materials from three organizations in which
Gerrits was active: The Gay Coalition on the Media, The Bay Area March on Washington Committee, and Mobilization Against AIDS.
Language of Material: English
Collection is open for research.
[Identification of item]. Burt Gerrits papers . Collection Number: 1994-26. GLBT Historical Society
Gift of Burt Gerrits, 1998-2004.
Scope and Content of Collection
Burt Gerrits (1923-2008) was born in South Dakota, and moved to the Bay Area in 1941. He served during WWII, Burt served in
the Navy, and his recollections of Navy life as a gay man were included in historian Allan
Bérubé
’s book Coming Out Under Fire. Gerrits taught in public schools for 35 years, and was active in many LGBT organizations and
events. The bulk of the Burt Gerrits papers consist of materials from three organizations in which Gerrits was active. The
Gay Coalition on the Media came together in 1975 to press for fair treatment of gay issues in the various media. The Bay Area
March on Washington Committee was formed in 1987 to provide local outreach, fundraising, transportation and publicity in response
to the call for a Gay and Lesbian March on Washington. The Mobilization Against AIDS was organized in 1985 to press for increased
government funding in the fight against AIDS, to oppose civil rights attacks and to educate the public. The collection also
includes materials from many other organizations Gerrits was involved in, and events he participated in, including the Gay
Academic Union, the 1984 March on Washington, the University of California Gay & Lesbian Alumni, BANGLE, the Gay Freedom Day
Committee and the Pacific Center. The collection also includes Gerrits' World War II sailor pants and his father's World War
I uniform. GSSO linked terms: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000374; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_005822; http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_008536;
http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/GSSO_000521
Gay men
Veterans
World War, 1939-1945
AIDS (disease)