Summary

An FBI document on Harry Hay, an LGBTQIA+ activist and founder of the Mattachine Society.

Credit to Douglas M. Charles, FBI historian and author of "Hoover's War on Gays: Exposing the FBI's Sex Deviates Program".

Related Pages

• Harry Hay (1912-2002)
• J. Edgar Hoover
• Mattachine Society

Full Text

TO: DIRECTOR, FBI (100-211619) FROM: SAC, LOS ANGELES (100-187762)

SUBJECT: HARRY HAY, was. SECURITY MATTER - C (00: Los Angeles)

Rerep of SA [redacted] at Los Angeles dated 6/16/55, and Los Angeles letter to the Bureau dated 6/16/55.

On 7/2/55, [redacted clause] who has furnished reliable information in the past, and whose identity should be concealed if used in a report, orally advised SA [redacted] that HARRY HAY, represented by FRANK PESTANA, attorney-at-law, Los Angeles, California, appeared before the HCUA which convened in Room 518, Federal Building, Los Angeles, California, on 7/2/55.

HAY advised the Committee that he was born on 4/7/12, in England, and arrived in the United States in 1916; that is is a U.S. citizen by virtue of his parents' birth; and that he is employed as a production control engineer.

HARRY HAY had previously been identified before the Committee as a member of the CP by [redacted paragraph].

HAY during the course of his testimony, referred to [redacted] as a "stool pidgeon." He further declined to furnish any information whatsoever concerning himself or the fact that he was ever employed as a teacher, had any connection with music, or ever conducted classes for the CLS. He invoked the First and Fifth Amendments of the Constitution for all questions concerning his former or present membership in the CP.

In Los Angeles letter to the Burea dated 6/16/55, recommendation was made that HARRY HAY be deleted from the