At nearly 94 years of age, celebrated historian/author/activist Martin Duberman is carrying the same spark that he felt after the Stonewall riots in 1969, the 55th anniversary of which is celebrated today. The author of more than 25 books, including award-winning works on African-American history, abolitionist history, civil rights history, the AIDS crisis, and social movements, Duberman wrote what many have called the definitive history of the Stonewall riots. Stonewall (1993) offers a riveting account of the seminal event in gay liberation and its aftermath that galvanized active resistance and action across the country after years of unequal treatment and harassment of the LGBTQ+ community. While his books on LGBT history and biography have had a significant impact, it is ironic that he spent many years trying to heal himself of his same-sex attraction. His memoir, Cures: A Gay Man’s Odyssey, and three other revealing memoirs recount his tortured journey to acceptance and his subsequent life on the frontlines of advocacy. It should be noted that after his coming out in 1972, Duberman became a major force for change. In 1986, he founded the Center for Gay and Lesbian Studies at the City University of New York, America’s first academic research institution, focusing on LGBT issues, and he served as its director for ten years. Additionally, he served on co-founding boards of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and the Lamba Legal Defense Fund, both of which are recognized for their groundbreaking work on social justice. Ever the radical, Duberman is unafraid to provide cogent commentary and insightful examination of the times in which we live. He cautions that there can be no complacency when it comes to social justice issues, and even in his golden years, Martin Duberman continues to be active. His latest book, Line of Dissent: Gay Outsiders and the Shaping of History, was published in January of this year. In May of this year, Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences awarded him its 2024 Centennial Medal for his life of service and community-building on behalf of marginalized people everywhere. It is well-deserved.
“I’d like to think it [my legacy} will center on a resistance to all forms of “inauthentic” authority and opening our ears to the wisdom of outsiders.” Martin Duberman
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