09/08/2009
Albert Gordon, Heterosexual Defender of Gay Rights, Dies in L.A.
Albert Gordon, an attorney who championed gay rights causes in the 70's and 80's, has died at 94, the L.A. Times reports:
"Often working
for free, he became known as 'the leading pro bono lawyer to L.A.'s gay
community,' historians Lillian Faderman and Stuart Timmons wrote in
their 2006 book 'Gay L.A.' ... 'Before there was a straight-gay
alliance in America, there was Al Gordon,' the Rev. Troy Perry, a
longtime activist and founder of the gay-friendly Metropolitan
Community Churches, said in an interview last week. 'When other people
wouldn't touch us, he did. He was a hero.' One of Gordon's most
memorable cases stemmed from a notorious raid on a gay bathhouse on
Melrose Avenue in 1975, when scores of Los Angeles police officers
broke up a mock slave auction staged as part of the entertainment for a
gay community fundraiser. Apparently not amused by the gimmick, the
police treated the event as actual human slave trafficking, a felony,
and arrested 40 participants. Gordon helped win their release. He
supported a second mock auction, organized by Perry to raise defense
funds, by going on the auction block himself. He went for $369 to his
wife, Lorraine. He also represented gay activists in another
cause celebre: a 10-year battle to force Barney's Beanery, a popular
West Hollywood restaurant, to remove an offensive sign. The misspelled
sign, 'Fagots Stay Out,' was taken down in 1984."
May he rest in peace.
Posted 9:31 AM EST by Andy Towle in Deaths, Los Angeles, News |
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On a related note, LA readers should try to check out the Pat Rocco: Enlightened Enthusiast exhibition at ONE Archives Gallery and Museum on Robertson Blvd (down the street from The Abbey, boys). Filmmaker/photographer/theatrical director/activist Pat Rocco was also involved in the "Free the Slaves" auction that followed the original fundraiser. Interesting exhibit and definitely worth checking out. I believe it's been extended until 9/15. http://www.onearchives.org/h_rocco
Posted by: Mr. Pinky | Sep 8, 2009 1:37:53 PM