The Mattachine Society was one of the first LGBTQ+ rights organizations in the United States. Founded in 1950 by Harry Hay and a group of his friends, the society aimed to advocate for the rights and visibility of the queer community. The group was named after the Mattachine, a medieval French masquerade society where members wore masks to conceal their true identities. Similarly, the Mattachine Society provided a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals to support each other without fear of discrimination or persecution.
While the national organization had disbanded in 1961, regional groups continued to be active throughout the United States including The Mattachine Society of New York, Inc. Following the Stonewall uprising, the Society faced heated internal debates. Some members wanted to continue fighting for gay rights within established institutions, while other members wanted to overthrow existing institutions all together and demand radical change. Soon after, the Society’s more radical members left the group to form the Gay Liberation Front.
Despite operating in a time when homosexuality was highly stigmatized and illegal, the Mattachine Society played a crucial role in challenging societal norms and paving the way for the progress and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ rights movement that continues to this day.
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Students will enhance their skills in historical analysis, chronological organization, and storytelling through the guided exploration of a collection of primary sources highlighting the Stonewall Uprising and its lasting impact on the fight for equality.
