Society for Individual Rights
Variant namesHistorical Note
Founded in San Francisco in 1964, the Society for Individual Rights (SIR)'s goals included public affirmation of gay and lesbian identity, elimination of victimless crime laws, providing a range of social services (including legal aid) to "gays in difficulties," and promoting a sense of a gay and lesbian community. In particular, SIR's "leaders were more assertive and confident [as compared to older homophile organizations] in their gay identity. Taking a cue from the burgeoning civil rights movement, SIR demanded equal rights and decried government-sanctioned discrimination." The organization also departed from older groups in its emphasis on the democratic process. By the late 1970s, however, SIR's influence diminished.
Source: Highleyman, Liz, "What Was the Society for Individual Rights?" http://www.gmax.co.za/think/history/2004/040330-SFriscoRights.html, 2004 (accessed April 4, 2012).
From the guide to the Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records, 1964-1977, (ONE National Gay & Lesbian Archives)
| Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
|---|---|---|---|
| creatorOf | International Gay Information Center. International Gay Information Center collection, 1951-1994. | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
| referencedIn | Foster Gunnison, Jr. Papers., undated, 1945-1994. | Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center. | |
| referencedIn | Gregory Grosh Yonkers Production Company Slides, 1972-1973 | James C. Hormel Gay & Lesbian Center, San Francisco Public Library | |
| referencedIn | Heer, Nicholas. Nicholas Heer papers, 1961-1985. | Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library | |
| creatorOf | Society for Individual Rights (SIR) Records, 1964-1977 | ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. | |
| referencedIn | Dan Siminoski collection on Federal Bureau of Investigation surveillance of gays and lesbians, 1953-2001, (bulk 1953-1986) | ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives. |
| Role | Title | Holding Repository |
|---|
Filters:
| Relation | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| associatedWith | Grosh, Gregory | person |
| correspondedWith | Gunnison, Foster. | person |
| associatedWith | Heer, Nicholas. | person |
| associatedWith | International Gay Information Center. | corporateBody |
| associatedWith | Siminoski, Dan, 1947- | person |
| Place Name | Admin Code | Country |
|---|
| Subject |
|---|
| Gay activists |
| Gay and lesbian rights |
| Gay liberation movement |
| Gays |
| Occupation |
|---|
| Activity |
|---|
Corporate Body
Active 1951
Active 1994
