Mattachine Review, January-February 1955, Vol. 1, No. 1

Mattachine Society.

First issue of the Mattachine Review, published January-February 1955 by the Mattachine Society, Inc., a pioneering homophile organization in the United States. The 17-page, black-and-white periodical contains editorials, legal analyses, research reports, personal essays, and organizational news focused on issues affecting homosexuals and sex variants. Major articles include 'Vag Lewd: a criticism of the California statute' by Henry Silver, a research report on the invert as a distinct personality type, James Barr's essay on facing friends in a small town, and an open letter to U.S. Senator Everett M. Dirksen. The issue also features updates on legal cases, research projects, organizational structure, international contacts, and letters from readers. The publication aims to educate both homosexuals and the broader public about the realities and challenges of sex-variant life, advocating for civil liberties, social integration, and accurate information.

Title

Mattachine Review, January-February 1955, Vol. 1, No. 1

Creator

Mattachine Society.

Published

1955-01-01

Full Collection Name

Mattachine Review

Project Name

San Francisco Bay Area gay and lesbian serial collection

Subject (Topic)

Homosexuality
Gay people
Social integration
Civil rights
Law reform
Open letters
Research

Keyword

homosexuality ; sex variant ; civil liberties ; California Penal Code Section 647 ; vagrancy laws ; Mattachine Society ; legal reform ; research ; small town life ; open letter ; Senator Dirksen ; organizational structure ; discussion groups ; public education ; social integration

Type

Text

Extent

1 online resource (12 v. : ill.)

Archive

The Library

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Linked Resources

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Collection

Mattachine Review

Source of Description

Record metadata augmented by JSTOR Seeklight AI, August 2026