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Guide to the Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns Collection, 1981-1987
1992-02  
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Collection Details
 
Table of contents What's This?
  • Descriptive Summary
  • Administrative Information
  • Historical Note
  • Scope and Content
  • Material Cataloged Separately
  • Related Collections

  • Descriptive Summary

    Title: Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns Collection,
    Date (inclusive): 1981-1987
    Accession number: 1992-02
    Creator: Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns
    Extent: .5 linear feet in 2 boxes
    Repository: The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
    San Francisco, California.
    Shelf location: Housed at the GLBT Historical Society.
    Language: English.

    Administrative Information

    Acquisition

    The Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns Records (#1992-02) were donated to GLBTHS by George Meyer in 1992.

    Access

    Collection is open for research.

    Publication Rights

    Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

    Audio-Visual Materials

    There are eight audio cassettes and photographs in the Records.

    Preferred Citation

    [Identification of item], Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns Collection, #1992-02, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.

    Historical Note

    Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns (LGLC) was established during the 1981 national Libertarian Party Convention in Denver, Colorado. LGLC succeeded the Thomas Jefferson Libertarian Club, a 1970's gay and lesbian political organization. Despite LGLC's ties with the libertarian movement, it has never been an official organization of the Libertarian party. The organization's mission was to support gay and lesbians libertarians, to persuade gay and lesbians to consider the libertarian view of civil liberties, and to bring awareness of gay and lesbian issues to libertarians.
    After a slow beginning in Salt Lake City (1981-1983), LGLC moved to Washington, D.C. (1983- 1984) and to San Francisco in 1985. Robert Waldrop was the organization's first Coordinator. In 1983 Waldrop was succeeded by George Meyer, who was then the LGLC Washington, D.C. Coordinator. Meyer's efforts as National Coordinator saw an increase in the organization's membership and influence. He edited the bi-monthly LGLC Newsletter, which had 400 subscribers during the mid-1980's. Meyer supported theWashington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco local chapters. By 1986, despite his efforts, only the New York City and San Francisco chapters were still active. Meyer also arranged information booths at Libertarian party state and national conventions, encouraged LGLC participation in Gay Freedom Day parades, and maintained a network of contacts in thirteen states.
    George Meyer moved to San Francisco in late 1984, and began the San Francisco chapter (August 1984) while serving as National Coordinator. Mark Fulwiler became the chapter's first coordinator. Chapter activities included monthly meetings with guest speakers and films at Free Forum Books, the San Francisco libertarian bookstore. During its first year, the chapter supported an ad-hoc committee organized against the bathhouse closures. Later, the chapter served as the host chapter to two LGLC national conventions. The first convention was held in October 1985 with 60 gay and lesbian libertarians attending from the United States and Canada. The second convention was held in May 1987 with twenty-nine attendees.
    After LGLC's second convention, George Meyer stepped down as National Coordinator. He was succeeded by Jim Peron, the manager of Free Forum Books, who became the editor of the LGLCNewsletter, and Jon Osborne who handled membership and advertising activities. As far as can be determined from available records, LGLC and all of its chapters discontinued operations by late 1987.

    Scope and Content

    The Libertarians for Gay and Lesbian Concerns Records, .5 linear feet, covers the years 1979 to 1987. The Records document the activities of LGLC especially those of George Meyer, LGLC's National Coordinator from 1983 to 1987. The Records are arranged in nine series: Correspondence, Advertising, Chapters, Conventions, Clippings, Miscellaneous, Pamphlets, Photographs, and Audio Cassettes.
    The Correspondence series is arranged chronologically. Included are typewritten and handwritten letters to and from George Meyer with local, national, and international gay and lesbian libertarians, Libertarian Party officials in the United States and Great Britain, and others. There is correspondence providing interested individuals with information about LGLC, making arrangements for guest speakers to come to LGLC chapter meetings and the two conventions, and reserving information booths at state and national Libertarian Party conventions.
    The Advertising series is arranged chronologically and covers George Meyer's typewritten correspondence with various gay and lesbian and libertarian publishers. To promote its activities, LGLC maintained an active advertising campaign. Included are ad respondences and general inquiries (1985-1986), examples of the organization's advertisements in various publications (1984-1986), and libertarian directories (1983-1987).
    The Chapter series provides information regarding three chapters of LGLC: San Francisco, New York City, and the Fountainhead Club in Los Angeles. Each chapter has its own folder with material arranged chronologically from 1983 to 1987. Information concerning the Washington, D.C. chapter is with Meyer's correspondence folder. Noteworthy information in the 1985 San Francisco Chapter folder is a copy of the LGLC San Francisco Chapter (LGLC/SF) By-Laws. The New York and Los Angeles files contain flyers, newsletters, and correspondence with LGLC members Jonathan T. Carriel, Jr. (New York City), and John Vernon (Los Angeles).
    The Conventions series is arranged chronologically beginning with the California Libertarian Party State Convention in February 1985. There is a draft copy of an announcement for a cocktail party hosted by LGLC at the state convention. The series contains documents from LGLC's two national conventions both held in San Francisco. A brochure entitled "Our Bodies, Their Laws" (the second convention's theme), is also in this series. The 1987 National Convention photographs have been moved to the Photograph series.
    LGLC National Coordinator, George Meyer, maintained clipping files of newspaper essays, articles, and speeches of gay and lesbian libertarians. These two files are arranged chronologically from 1982 to 1987. The files contain photocopies of articles from both local and national libertarian and gay bulletins, newspapers, and magazines. Several of the articles contain background information concerning LGLC's national conventions.
    The Miscellaneous series has a copy of the "No Name Newsletter" the first LGLC publication written by Robert Waldrop in 1981. This publication was succeeded by the LGLC Newsletter in 1983.
    The David Simons folder is also in the Miscellaneous series. David Simons was a LGLC member who was arrested for child molestation. He was detained in jail for three days, received negative coverage in the local media, and lost his job when the San Francisco Police notified his employer of his arrest. LGLC claimed that the charges against its member were false and that Simons suffered from police harassment, because he supported the right of a child to consent to underage sex. This was LGLC's first and only fund raiser with over $400 raised. There are many typewritten thank-you notes from Meyer to the donator.
    Also in the Miscellaneous series are two pamphlets. First pamphlet is "Gay Rights: A Libertarian Approach" by Ralph Raico. It is not known where and when it was published. The second pamphlet is "In Praise of Outlaws: Rebuilding Gay Liberation" by Justin Raimondo in 1979. Also, in this series, is George Meyer's alternate badge from the August 1985 National Libertarian Party Convention, and announcements of a talk by Juan Peron and a LGLC wine and cheese party.
    The Photograph series has color positives of Libertarian conventions, guest speakers at the San Francisco Chapter meetings, LGLC's contingent at the 1985 San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade, George Meyer, and other unnamed LGLC members. Photos taken at the conventions include the state convention held in San Mateo, California in February 1985, the Libertarian National Convention of 1985 (August) held in Phoenix, Arizona, and the two national conventions. Photos of guest speakers include the following: Priscilla Alexander, Mel Dahl, John Dentinger, Dr. Lee Goldman, Jessea Greenman, Kjell Horne, Donna Hitchens, Jim Peron, and David Simons.
    The audio recordings series has eight cassette tapes of the guest speakers from the first national LGLC convention. A full list of the speakers and titles is available in the folder list.

    Subjects and Indexing Terms

    Politics and elections

    Material Cataloged Separately

    • Photographs have been transferred to the Photo room.
    • 8 Audio cassettes have been transferred to the AV room.

    Related Collections

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