Stephen Donaldson was a writer, editor and activist noted for his interest in gay and bisexual politics, the sexual victimization of male prison inmates, Indian religions and punk rock music.
Stephen Donaldson was born Robert A. Martin, Jr. on July 27, 1946. He attended Columbia University (B.A. 1970) where he founded the Student Homophile League and was active in the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations. During his undergraduate summers he worked as a reporter for the Associated Press and Virginia Pilot, and as an intern in the offices of two U.S. Congressmen. In 1970 Donaldson enlisted in the U.S. Navy, but was released by General Discharge two years later on grounds of suspected homosexual involvement. His unprecedented public campaign against the discharge failed, though he eventually won an upgrade to Honorable. From 1972-77 Donaldson was involved with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and led the group's bisexual caucus. In 1973 he was arrested at a Quaker peace protest at the White House, and was sexually assaulted by inmates in the Washington D.C. jail. This experience led to his activism on the issue of male sexual victimization, most notably with the organization Stop Prisoner Rape. During the 1980s-90s Donaldson wrote (often under the pseudonym "Donny the Punk") for magazines and underground publications on such topics as punk rock, prison conditions, religion and sexuality. He was assistant editor of the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality (1990) and editor-in-chief of an unpublished revision of that work. Stephen Donaldson died in New York City of an AIDS-related illness on July 18, 1996.
From the description of Stephen Donaldson papers, 1965-1996. (New York Public Library). WorldCat record id: 122414617
