Jack Nichols (activist)
Encyclopedia
John Richard "Jack" Nichols (March 16, 1938 – May 2, 2005) was an American
gay rights activist. He co-founded the Washington, D.C. branch of the Mattachine Society
in 1961 with Franklin E. Kameny
. He appeared in a 1967 documentary under the pseudonym Warren Adkins.
and came out
as gay
to his parents as a teenager. He was inspired at age 15 by the poems of Walt Whitman and the works of Edward Carpenter
. He recalled to Owen Keehnen that, as early as 1955, he was sharing Donald Webster Cory
's The Homosexual in America with his gay friends.
, which had formally disbanded a few months earlier.
Beginning in 1963, he chaired the Mattachine Society of Washington's Committee on Religious Concerns, which later developed into the Washington Area Council on Religion and the Homosexual. This organization was pioneering in forging links between the gay rights movement
and the National Council of Churches
.
Nichols led the first gay rights march on the White House
, in April 1965, and participated in the Annual Reminder
pickets at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, held each July 4 from 1965 to 1969. He along with other activists successfully lobbied the American Psychiatric Association
to rescind its definition of homosexuality as a form of mental illness
.
In 1967, Nichols became one of the first Americans to talk openly about his homosexuality on national television when he appeared in CBS Reports: The Homosexuals
, a CBS News
documentary. Though he allowed himself to be interviewed on camera, Mr. Nichols used the pseudonym "Warren Adkins" in the broadcast at the request of his father, an FBI agent.
, Nichols began writing the column "The Homosexual Citizen" for Screw magazine in 1968. "The Homosexual Citizen", which borrowed its title from the newspaper published by Mattachine D.C., was the first LGBT-interest column in a non-LGBT publication.
In 1969, after moving to New York City
, Nichols and Clarke founded GAY, the first weekly newspaper for gay people in the United States distributed on newsstands. The publication continued until Clarke's murder at a roadblock in Veracruz
. From 1977-78, he served as the editor of Sexology. Nichols was hired in 1981 as the news editor of the San Francisco Sentinel
.
From February 1997, Nichols was Senior Editor at GayToday.com, an online newsmagazine
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
gay rights activist. He co-founded the Washington, D.C. branch of the Mattachine Society
Mattachine Society
The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, was one of the earliest homophile organizations in the United States, probably second only to Chicago’s Society for Human Rights . Harry Hay and a group of Los Angeles male friends formed the group to protect and improve the rights of homosexuals...
in 1961 with Franklin E. Kameny
Franklin E. Kameny
Franklin Edward "Frank" Kameny was "one of the most significant figures" in the American gay rights movement. In 1957, Kameny was dismissed from his position as an astronomer in the Army Map Service in Washington, D.C...
. He appeared in a 1967 documentary under the pseudonym Warren Adkins.
Biography
Nichols was born in Washington, D.C. to parents of Scottish ancestry. He was raised in Chevy Chase, MarylandChevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
and came out
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
as gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
to his parents as a teenager. He was inspired at age 15 by the poems of Walt Whitman and the works of Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter
Edward Carpenter was an English socialist poet, socialist philosopher, anthologist, and early gay activist....
. He recalled to Owen Keehnen that, as early as 1955, he was sharing Donald Webster Cory
Edward Sagarin
Edward Sagarin , also known by his pen name Donald Webster Cory, was an American professor of sociology and criminology at the City University of New York, and a writer...
's The Homosexual in America with his gay friends.
Activism
Nichols co-founded the Mattachine Society of Washington in 1961 with Frank Kameny, and the Mattachine Society of Florida in 1965. The Mattachine Society of Washington was independent of the national Mattachine SocietyMattachine Society
The Mattachine Society, founded in 1950, was one of the earliest homophile organizations in the United States, probably second only to Chicago’s Society for Human Rights . Harry Hay and a group of Los Angeles male friends formed the group to protect and improve the rights of homosexuals...
, which had formally disbanded a few months earlier.
Beginning in 1963, he chaired the Mattachine Society of Washington's Committee on Religious Concerns, which later developed into the Washington Area Council on Religion and the Homosexual. This organization was pioneering in forging links between the gay rights movement
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
and the National Council of Churches
National Council of Churches
The National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA is an ecumenical partnership of 37 Christian faith groups in the United States. Its member denominations, churches, conventions, and archdioceses include Mainline Protestant, Orthodox, African American, Evangelical, and historic peace...
.
Nichols led the first gay rights march on the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, in April 1965, and participated in the Annual Reminder
Annual Reminder
The Annual Reminders were a series of early pickets organized by homophile organizations. The Reminder took place each July 4 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia beginning in 1965 and were among the earliest LGBT demonstrations in the United States...
pickets at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, held each July 4 from 1965 to 1969. He along with other activists successfully lobbied the American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
to rescind its definition of homosexuality as a form of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
.
In 1967, Nichols became one of the first Americans to talk openly about his homosexuality on national television when he appeared in CBS Reports: The Homosexuals
CBS Reports: The Homosexuals
"The Homosexuals" is a 1967 episode of the documentary television series CBS Reports. The hour-long broadcast featured a discussion of a number of topics related to homosexuality and homosexuals. Mike Wallace anchored the episode, which aired on March 7, 1967...
, a CBS News
CBS News
CBS News is the news division of American television and radio network CBS. The current chairman is Jeff Fager who is also the executive producer of 60 Minutes, while the current president of CBS News is David Rhodes. CBS News' flagship program is the CBS Evening News, hosted by the network's main...
documentary. Though he allowed himself to be interviewed on camera, Mr. Nichols used the pseudonym "Warren Adkins" in the broadcast at the request of his father, an FBI agent.
Writing career
With his partner Lige ClarkeLige Clarke
Elijah Hadyn "Lige" Clarke was an American LGBT activist and journalist. Together with his partner Jack Nichols, Clarke created and wrote "The Homosexual Citizen" in 1968...
, Nichols began writing the column "The Homosexual Citizen" for Screw magazine in 1968. "The Homosexual Citizen", which borrowed its title from the newspaper published by Mattachine D.C., was the first LGBT-interest column in a non-LGBT publication.
In 1969, after moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Nichols and Clarke founded GAY, the first weekly newspaper for gay people in the United States distributed on newsstands. The publication continued until Clarke's murder at a roadblock in Veracruz
Veracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
. From 1977-78, he served as the editor of Sexology. Nichols was hired in 1981 as the news editor of the San Francisco Sentinel
San Francisco Sentinel
The San Francisco Sentinel is an online newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities of the San Francisco Bay Area...
.
From February 1997, Nichols was Senior Editor at GayToday.com, an online newsmagazine
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
.