In a galvanizing sweep through the Twentieth Century, award-winning historian Stuart Timmons chronicles the story of the man who founded the modern gay movement. After decades of searching and struggle, Harry Hay created the Mattachine Society in 1950, the nation's first gay political group. Today, LGBT activism is taken for granted. But over a half century ago, it required a visionary and courageous spirit to organize a stigmatized and closeted class of people.
In this Centenary Edition of The Trouble with Harry Hay, Timmons documents those tumultuous early years of the homophile movement and the colorful life of its founder.This newly updated biography is a classic study of the man who started it all.
"This engrossing,well-written book rescues Harry Hay from the realm of myth and also recovers large chunks of gay history. On both counts, it is a solid, praiseworthy achievement."
—Martin Duberman, Founder of the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at the CUNY Graduate School and Professor Emeritus of History at City University New York