Craig Rodwell

Craig L. Rodwell
Craig L. Rodwell
Born	Template:Birth date; Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	June 18, 1993 (aged 52); New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Gay rights activist, bookseller
Known for	Founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop; early gay rights activism; initiating NYC gay pride march

Craig L. Rodwell (October 31, 1940 – June 18, 1993) was a prominent American advocate for gay rights and the founder of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, which opened its doors on November 24, 1967, as the very first bookstore dedicated exclusively to gay and lesbian literature. He played a pivotal role in initiating the New York City gay pride march. As an activist already engaged during the 1969 Stonewall uprising, Rodwell is acknowledged as a significant leader within the early homophile movement of the 1960s, predating Stonewall.

Early life

Rodwell was born in Chicago, Illinois, and his parents separated before he turned one year old. During his early childhood, he contributed to household expenses by doing kitchen and laundry chores while attending daycare. At six years old, his mother enrolled him at the Chicago Junior School (later known as Fox River Country Day School) in Elgin, Illinois—a school affiliated with Christian Science and intended for boys facing behavioral challenges. Although same-sex relationships were strongly discouraged there, Rodwell experienced such relationships and adopted Christian Science values, including an emphasis on honesty.

Between the ages of 13 and 14, Rodwell engaged in numerous same-sex encounters in Chicago, which he later identified as profoundly influential in his life. At age 14, after being apprehended with an older male companion, he was adjudicated for juvenile delinquency and placed on probation for two years.

Following his graduation from Chicago Junior School, Rodwell attended Sullivan High School in Chicago while continuing his Christian Science education. He pursued ballet studies in Boston before relocating to New York City in 1958, where he volunteered with The Mattachine Society of New York. Settling in Greenwich Village—then a central area for the gay community—he initially worked at a well-known gay restaurant before transitioning to clerical employment. Although involved with the Mattachine Society, he grew disenchanted with its conservative stance and cautious tactics.

Harvey Milk

In 1962, Rodwell entered into a romantic relationship with Harvey Milk, who would later become one of the earliest openly gay politicians elected to public office. This was Rodwell’s first significant partnership. Their relationship ended partly due to Milk’s ambivalence toward Rodwell’s early activism and the novel political ideas associating homosexuality with activism that simultaneously intrigued and unsettled Milk. Additionally, Milk believed that Rodwell was linked to an STD he contracted. Following Rodwell’s arrest for cruising in Washington Square Park, Milk terminated their relationship. Soon after these events, Rodwell attempted suicide.

When Rodwell established the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop in 1967, Milk became a frequent visitor and later expressed intentions to open a similar establishment in San Francisco as a form of community engagement. Ultimately, Milk opened a camera shop that doubled as a community center, reflecting Rodwell’s model.

Early activism

Rodwell founded the Homophile Youth Movement in Neighborhood (HYMN) in 1967 and published its magazine titled HYMNAL. He originated the concept for the first yearly gay rights demonstration known as the Annual Reminder, which took place at Independence Hall from 1965 through 1969. He also organized rallies for Homophile Youth Movement during 1967 and was actively present during the Stonewall Riots in 1969. Until April 1966, Rodwell was involved with the Mattachine Society and participated in various early homophile rights groups. Unlike many members who concealed their identities behind pseudonyms for safety reasons, Rodwell openly used his real name, positioning himself as a radical figure within the typically cautious homophile movement.

In early 1964, serving as vice president and volunteer with Mattachine Society of New York, Rodwell established Mattachine Young Adults and joined both the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations (ECRHO) and the North American Conference of Homophile Organizations (NACHO).

On September 19, 1964, alongside Randy Wicker, Jefferson Poland, Renee Cafiero, and others, Rodwell participated in picketing New York's Whitehall Street Induction Center to protest against military exclusion policies and dishonorable discharges targeting gays. On April 18, 1965, he led demonstrations at United Nations Plaza opposing Cuba’s detention of homosexuals in labor camps alongside Wicker, Allen Ginsberg, and other activists.

In 1968, together with fellow activist Frank Kameny, Rodwell promoted the phrase "Gay is Good," inspired by the "Black is Beautiful" movement. He publicized this slogan through his bookshop’s window displays, his publication Hymnal, as well as on buttons and patches—an early initiative aimed at fostering gay visibility and pride.

Sip-In

On April 21, 1966, Rodwell, together with Mattachine Society President Dick Leitsch and John Timmons, orchestrated a "Sip-In" at the Julius bar located in Greenwich Village. This action aimed to confront the New York State Liquor Authority regulation that prohibited bars from serving gay patrons. Previously, Rodwell had been asked to leave Julius for wearing a button stating "Equality for Homosexuals." They contended that this rule fostered police corruption and bribery. The widespread attention generated by their protest played a significant role in the eventual abolition of the SLA policy.

Stonewall Riots

As an experienced advocate for gay rights, Rodwell took part in the Stonewall Riots. On June 28, 1969, while returning home with his partner Fred Sargeant, they witnessed a police raid at the Stonewall Inn. Rodwell led chants of "Gay Power!" as law enforcement officers retreated inside the establishment, igniting the uprising. Following the event, Rodwell and Sargeant informed major news outlets; however, only The New York Times reported on it that day. Subsequently, they created and disseminated 5,000 copies of a flyer titled "Get the Mafia and Cops Out of Gay Bars," condemning the collusion between police and organized crime at Stonewall.

First gay pride march

In November 1969, during the Eastern Regional Conference of Homophile Organizations held in Philadelphia, Rodwell suggested organizing New York City's inaugural gay pride parade. He collaborated on this initiative with partner Fred Sargeant (vice chairman of HYMN), Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes. The planning for this first march took place in Rodwell's apartment on Bleecker Street.

That the Annual Reminder be rescheduled to the final Saturday in June in New York City to honor the 1969 Christopher Street demonstrations, designated as CHRISTOPHER STREET LIBERATION DAY, without any dress code or age limitations.
We propose reaching out to homophile organizations across the country to coordinate simultaneous demonstrations as a show of solidarity.

Later activism

Rodwell is recognized for introducing the term heterosexism in January 1971 to describe widespread prejudice against LGBTQ individuals. In 1978, inspired by Kay Tobin, he co-founded Gay People in Christian Science (GPICS) to provide support for members threatened with excommunication due to their sexual orientation. The organization actively challenged the Christian Science church's discriminatory policies. By 1999, the church had ended its practice of excluding openly gay or lesbian members.

Rodwell sold his bookstore in March 1993 and died from stomach cancer on June 18, 1993, at age 52.

Honors

In 1992, Rodwell was honored with the Lambda Literary Award for Publisher's Service. Posthumously, in June 2019, he was inducted as one of fifty American pioneers on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at New York City's Stonewall National Monument, which is recognized as the first U.S. national monument dedicated to LGBTQ history and rights. This tribute coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the Stonewall riots.

References

Bianco, David (1999). Gay Essentials: Facts For Your Queer Brain. Los Angeles, Alyson Publications. .
Carter, David (2004). Stonewall: The Riots That Sparked The Gay Revolution. New York, St. Martin's Press. .
Downs, Jim (2016), Stand by Me: The Forgotten History of Gay Liberation. New York, Basic Books.
Duberman, Martin (1993). Stonewall New York, Dutton. .
Hinds, Patrick (2007). The Q Guide to NYC Pride. Los Angeles, Alyson Publications. .
Loughery, John (1998). The Other Side of Silence – Men's Lives and Gay Identities: A Twentieth-Century History. New York, Henry Holt and Company. .
Marotta, Toby (1981). The Politics of Homosexuality. Boston, Houghton Mifflin Company. .
Pitman, Gayle E. (2019). The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets. New York, Abrams Books. .
Shilts, Randy (1982). The Mayor of Castro Street: The Life and Times of Harvey Milk. New York, St. Martin's Press. .
Stores, Bruce (2004). Christian Science: Its Encounter With Lesbian/Gay America. Lincoln, NE, iUniverse, Inc. .
Teal, Donn (1971). The Gay Militants. New York, Stein and Day. .
Tobin, Kay and Wicker, Randy (1972). The Gay Crusaders. New York, Paperback Library