Edward Sagarin

Edward Sagarin
Born(1913-09-18)September 18, 1913
Schenectady, New York, United States
DiedJune 10, 1986(1986-06-10) (aged 72)
New York, U.S.
Occupation
  • Professor
  • novelist
  • essayist
GenreIssues regarding homosexuality, sociology and criminology

Edward Sagarin (September 18, 1913 – June 10, 1986), 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. His book The Homosexual in America: A Subjective Approach, published in 1951, was considered "one of the most influential works in the history of the gay rights movement", and inspired compassion in others by highlighting the difficulties faced by homosexuals.[1][2]

He was titled "father of the homophile movement" for asserting that gay men and lesbians deserved civil rights as members of a large, unrecognised minority.[3] However, Vern L. Bullough believes the title is undeserved as Sagarin did not actively participate in resistance and did not join any homophile organisations until 1962, a time when he was seeking a topic to analyse in his thesis.[2]

  1. ^ Summers, Claude J. Encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer culture Archived June 6, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ a b Bullough, Vern L. (2002) New York: Harrington Park Press. Before Stonewall: Activists for Gay and Lesbian Rights in Historical Context ISBN 1-56023-192-0
  3. ^ Johnson, David K. (2005) Encyclopedia of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender History in America