Albert L. Gordon
Encyclopedia
Albert L. Gordon was an American attorney who become an advocate for gay rights through legal challenges in the 1970s and 1980s to laws that criminalized certain homosexual practices. He had become a lawyer late in life and was a heterosexual who actively supported gay legal causes after his son came out.
. He moved to Los Angeles
as a child and later attended Los Angeles City College
. He had met his wife, Lorraine, when they were in college, and their twin sons were born in 1937, the year they were married. He worked for Lockheed
during World War II
and established a cleaning company with his wife after being fired from his job as a result of his union support.
of a male police officer. Described by his son as "homophobic", Gordon had carried the then-accepted "stereotype of a homosexual as a child molester or somebody effeminate". Even though he didn't feel his son fit the generalization, he became estranged from his son for years after the incident. The difficulties in dealing with the situation ended up causing Gordon to separate from his wife. As the years passed, Gordon became acquainted with his son's gay friends who had come to him with legal issues. Gordon's attitude towards homosexuals changed dramatically after he asked his son if he was gay and he broke down when the answer was "yes".
He and Morris Kight
obtained affidavits from three couples—one each heterosexual, gay and lesbian—in an effort to challenge a 1915 law in California that made oral sex
a felony based on inconsistent enforcement of a law that was often used to harass homosexuals. He called for the Los Angeles Police Department
to arrest the three couples at a publicity event held at the Los Angeles Press Club, but no police came to make the planned staged arrests. Nor would the police arrest the couples after Gordon made citizen's arrest
s and brought them down to an LAPD station and the Los Angeles County District Attorney
's office stated that no charges would be filed as it was against the office's policy to charge consenting adults for sexual acts done in private. On the basis of his advocacy together with Kight, the California Legislature repealed the statute in 1975.
Police conducted a raid on a gay bathhouse
in L.A. in 1975, arresting individuals who had been participating in a mock slave auction fundraising event; police charged those arrested with felonies under laws that prohibited slave trafficking. After Gordon won the release of the 40 people arrested, he was one of the mock slaves who were put up for sale in a second fundraising event organized by Rev. Troy Perry
to raise money for their defense, and was sold for $369 to his own wife.
A West Hollywood
establishment called Barney's Beanery
had long had anti-homosexual wording on signs and matchbooks at the restaurant, reading "Fagots [sic] Stay Out". The restaurant's owner stated that he didn't believe that the signs were offensive, that they were just part of the "tradition and decor" at Barney's and "obviously intended to be humorous". Through Gordon's efforts, the signs were removed in the mid-1980s.
at age 94 on August 10, 2009, of natural causes. He was survived by his second wife, Pearl, as well as by a son. His first wife died in 1987 and his son Gerald died in 1996.
Early life and education
Gordon was born on May 29, 1915, in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
as a child and later attended Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College
Los Angeles City College, known as LACC, is a public community college in the East Hollywood section of Los Angeles, California. A part of the Los Angeles Community College District, it is located on Vermont Avenue south of Santa Monica Boulevard...
. He had met his wife, Lorraine, when they were in college, and their twin sons were born in 1937, the year they were married. He worked for Lockheed
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and established a cleaning company with his wife after being fired from his job as a result of his union support.
Legal career as gay rights supporter
Gordon attended the San Fernando Valley College of Law (now University of West Los Angeles) and passed the bar in 1962. His "whole world just fell apart" while he was in law school, when his son was arrested for solicitationSolicitation
Literally, solicitation means: 'urgently asking'. It is the action or instance of soliciting; petition; proposal. In criminal law, it most commonly refers to either the act of offering goods or services, or the act of attempting to purchase such goods or services...
of a male police officer. Described by his son as "homophobic", Gordon had carried the then-accepted "stereotype of a homosexual as a child molester or somebody effeminate". Even though he didn't feel his son fit the generalization, he became estranged from his son for years after the incident. The difficulties in dealing with the situation ended up causing Gordon to separate from his wife. As the years passed, Gordon became acquainted with his son's gay friends who had come to him with legal issues. Gordon's attitude towards homosexuals changed dramatically after he asked his son if he was gay and he broke down when the answer was "yes".
He and Morris Kight
Morris Kight
Morris Kight was a gay rights pioneer and peace activist, based in Los Angeles. He is considered one of the original founders of the gay and lesbian civil rights movement in the United States.- Early life :Kight was born and grew up in Comanche County, Texas...
obtained affidavits from three couples—one each heterosexual, gay and lesbian—in an effort to challenge a 1915 law in California that made oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
a felony based on inconsistent enforcement of a law that was often used to harass homosexuals. He called for the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
to arrest the three couples at a publicity event held at the Los Angeles Press Club, but no police came to make the planned staged arrests. Nor would the police arrest the couples after Gordon made citizen's arrest
Citizen's arrest
A citizen's arrest is an arrest made by a person who is not acting as a sworn law-enforcement official. In common law jurisdictions, the practice dates back to medieval Britain and the English common law, in which sheriffs encouraged ordinary citizens to help apprehend law breakers.Despite the...
s and brought them down to an LAPD station and the Los Angeles County District Attorney
Los Angeles County District Attorney
The District Attorney of Los Angeles County prosecutes felony and misdemeanor crimes that occur within the jurisdiction of Los Angeles County, California....
's office stated that no charges would be filed as it was against the office's policy to charge consenting adults for sexual acts done in private. On the basis of his advocacy together with Kight, the California Legislature repealed the statute in 1975.
Police conducted a raid on a gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouse
Gay bathhouses, also known as gay saunas or steam baths, are commercial bathhouses for men to have sex with other men. In gay slang in some regions these venues are also known colloquially as "the baths" or "the tubs," and should not be confused with public bathing.Not all men who visit gay...
in L.A. in 1975, arresting individuals who had been participating in a mock slave auction fundraising event; police charged those arrested with felonies under laws that prohibited slave trafficking. After Gordon won the release of the 40 people arrested, he was one of the mock slaves who were put up for sale in a second fundraising event organized by Rev. Troy Perry
Troy Perry
Troy Deroy Perry Jr founded the Metropolitan Community Church, a Christian denomination with a special affirming ministry with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender communities, in Los Angeles on October 6, 1968.-Early life:...
to raise money for their defense, and was sold for $369 to his own wife.
A West Hollywood
West Hollywood, California
West Hollywood, a city of Los Angeles County, California, was incorporated on November 29, 1984, with a population of 34,399 at the 2010 census. 41% of the city's population is made up of gay men according to a 2002 demographic analysis by Sara Kocher Consulting for the City of West Hollywood...
establishment called Barney's Beanery
Barney's Beanery
Barney's Beanery is a restaurant and bar located in West Hollywood, California. It was founded by John "Barney" Anthony in 1920 along U.S. Route 66, now Santa Monica Boulevard, State Route 2, that connects Hollywood and the beach.-Summary:...
had long had anti-homosexual wording on signs and matchbooks at the restaurant, reading "Fagots [sic] Stay Out". The restaurant's owner stated that he didn't believe that the signs were offensive, that they were just part of the "tradition and decor" at Barney's and "obviously intended to be humorous". Through Gordon's efforts, the signs were removed in the mid-1980s.
Death
Gordon died in Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
at age 94 on August 10, 2009, of natural causes. He was survived by his second wife, Pearl, as well as by a son. His first wife died in 1987 and his son Gerald died in 1996.