Who Is Harry Hay? Age, Biography and Wiki
Harry Hay was born on April 7, 1912, in Worthing, England, and passed away on October 24, 2002, in San Francisco, California. He was a prominent American gay rights activist and is well-known as one of the founders of the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights organization in the United States. In 2025, he would have been celebrating his 113th birthday, a testament to the enduring impact of his advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and social justice.
| Occupation | Activists |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | April 7, 1912 |
| Age | 90 Years |
| Birth Place | Worthing, Sussex, England |
| Horoscope | Aries |
| Country | England |
| Date of death | 24 October, 2002 |
| Died Place | San Francisco, California, U.S. |
Popularity
Harry Hay's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
While specific measurements for Harry Hay are not widely documented due to his extensive focus on activism rather than personal fame, it is essential to note that he was known for his charismatic personality rather than physical attributes. Height and weight specifics from his lifetime remain unrecorded in public archives.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Harry Hay had a complex personal life that included romantic relationships which were often intertwined with his activism. He had significant partnerships with key figures in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Harry was openly gay during a time when it was often dangerous to do so, and he often addressed issues of relationship dynamics and the importance of love and acceptance within the gay community. His notable relationship with John Burnside lasted for many years until Hay's passing.
Henry Hay Jr. (April 7, 1912 – October 24, 2002) was an American gay rights activist, communist, and labor advocate. He cofounded the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights group in the United States, as well as the Radical Faeries, a loosely affiliated gay spiritual movement. Hay has been described as "the Founder of the Modern Gay Movement" and "the father of gay liberation".
Net Worth and Salary
Harry Hay's net worth at the time of his death in 2002 was not publicly disclosed, mainly because his life was dedicated to activism rather than accumulating wealth. However, his legacy has only grown in value in terms of the impact he made on society. His work laid the groundwork for future generations to fight for LGBTQ+ rights, contributing to the greater community's wealth of freedom and acceptance.
Career, Business and Investments
Hay's career was dedicated primarily to activism. He was involved in various campaigns and organizations that sought to improve the welfare and rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. Besides founding the Mattachine Society in 1950, he also played a vital role in the establishment of several organizations, including the Radical Faeries, which promote community and identity among queer individuals. While Hay was not a businessperson in the traditional sense, his activism can be seen as an investment in the betterment of society, influencing countless lives across generations.
In 1926, at the end of the summer, Hay took his union card to a hiring hall in San Francisco, convinced the union officials he was 21, and got a job on a cargo ship to work his way back to Los Angeles.
After an unloading at Monterey Bay, the 14-year-old Hay met and had sex with a 25-year-old merchant-sailor named Matt, who introduced him to the idea of gay men as a global "secret brotherhood".
Hay would later build on this idea, in combination with a Stalinist definition of nationalist identity, to argue that homosexuals constituted a "cultural minority".
Social Network
Throughout his life, Harry Hay was well-connected within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. He was involved with numerous key figures and organizations throughout his career. His social influence extends to various publications and public speaking events where his ideas on sexuality and activism were shared, further connecting him with like-minded individuals and movements.
Hay began Jungian analysis in 1937. He later claimed that the psychiatrist "misled" him into believing that through marriage to a woman, he could become heterosexual; the psychiatrist suggested that Hay find himself a "boyish girl".
After confiding with fellow Party members that he was homosexual, they too urged Hay to marry a woman, adhering to the party line that same-sex attraction was a symptom of bourgeoise decadence. Acting on this advice, in 1938 he married Anna Platky (1914-1983), a Marxist Party member from a working-class Jewish family.
Hay maintained that he loved her, and was happy to have a companion with whom he could share his political pursuits; he also got along well with her family. Their marriage took place in September 1938, in a non-religious wedding ceremony overseen by a Unitarian minister.
Their honeymoon however was cut short as a result of the sudden death of Hay, Sr. Settling into married life, Hay gained employment with the Works Progress Administration supervising the cataloguing of Orange County's civil records, while the couple continued their activism by taking photographs of Los Angeles' slums for a leftist exhibition.
However, the marriage did not quell Hay's same-sex attractions, and by 1939 he had begun to seek sexual encounters with other men in local parks on a weekly basis. He would later describe the marriage as "living in an exile world".
Education
Harry Hay attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he studied the sciences before moving on to pursue a career in performance and activism. His educational background contributed to his understanding of social structures, which fueled his passion for advocating for equal rights.
In conclusion, the life of Harry Hay is a powerful narrative of dedication, resilience, and advocacy. As we reflect on his contributions in 2025, we recognize the ongoing influence of his work on the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the society at large.
Hay was enrolled at Cahuenga Elementary School, where he excelled at his studies but was bullied. He began experimenting with his sexuality, and aged nine took part in sexual activity with a twelve-year-old neighbour boy.
At the same time he developed an early love of the natural world and became a keen outdoorsman through walks in the wilderness around the city.
Aged ten he was enrolled at Virgil Junior High School, and soon after joined a boys' club known as the Western Rangers, through which he developed an interest in Native American Cultures, specifically the Hopi and the Sioux.
Becoming a voracious reader, in 1923 he began to volunteer at a public library, where he discovered a copy of Edward Carpenter's book The Intermediate Sex. Reading it, he discovered the word homosexual for the first time and came to recognize that he was gay.
Aged twelve he enrolled at Los Angeles High School, where he continued to be studious and developed a love of theater. Coming to reject Catholicism, he remained at the school for three mandatory years before deciding to remain for a further two.
In this period, he took part in the school's poetry group, became State President of the California Scholarship Federation and President of the school's debating and dramatic society, and competed in the Southern California Oratorical Society's Contest, as well as joining the Reserve Officers' Training Corps.
