Finding aid of the Hank Wilson Papers
Processed by Marjorie Bryer, Sara Chabino-Lott and Rebekah Kim
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
and#x00A9; 2006
657 Mission Street, Suite 300
San Francisco, California 94105
Phone: (415) 777-5455
Fax: (415) 777-5576
Email: info@glbthistory.org
URL: http://www.glbthistory.org/
The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Finding aid of the Hank Wilson Papers
Collection number: 1996-02
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical SocietySan Francisco, California
- Processed by:
- Marjorie Bryer, Sara Chabino-Lott and Rebekah Kim
- Date Completed:
- September 2006
- Encoded by:
- Rebekah Kim
and#x00A9; 2006 The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society. All rights reserved.
Title: Hank Wilson Papers
Dates: 1972-2004
Collection number: 1996-02
Creator:
Wilson, Hank
Collection Size:
8 Cartons
Repository:
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society
San Francisco, California 94105
Abstract: Clippings, publications, reprints, organizational records collected by activist Hank Wilson.
Physical location: Stored at the Archives of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society in San Francisco, California.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Collection open for research.
Copyright to unpublished manuscript materials has been transferred to the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
[Identification of item], Hank Wilson Papers, 1996-02, The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society.
Donated to the Library by Hank Wilson on January 28, 1996 with an accretion in 2001, 2003 and 2006. Future accruals are expected.
Hank Wilson is a longtime San Francisco gay activist and long term AIDS survivor. He was raised in Sacramento and graduated
with a B.A. in Education from the University of Wisconsin in 1971. He co-founded with Tom Ammiano the Gay Teachers Coalition
(GTC) in 1975 and lobbied for non discrimination for gay teachers in the San Francisco schools. A leader in the 1977 anti-Briggs
Initiative campaign, Wilson has worked extensively with gay issues in the San Francisco Unified School District. He served
on the Gay Youth Advocacy Council which founded LYRIC, Lavendar Youth Recreation and Information Center. He also served on
the San Francisco Human Rights Commission's Youth and Education Committee and also launched with Ammiano a gay speakers bureau
to educate San Francisco high school and middle school students about gay and lesbian issues. In 1976 he helped found the
Butterfly Brigade, Castro Street Safety Patrol and Carry a Whistle Defense Campaign.
In 1978, he started a business partnership with fellow activist Ron Lanza, which led to leasing four Tenderloin Hotels. He
operated the Ambassador Hotel through 1996 and it became a model of harm reduction services housing PWAs. In 1982, Lanza and
Wilson created the Valencia Rose Caberet, an influential gay performance venue. With Glenda Hope and Dennis Conkin he founded
Tenderloin AIDS Network that led to the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center. Wilson managed the TARC drop-in center providing
support to the homeless and PWAs. He was diagnosed with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) in 1987. He continued his activism in AIDS
and participating in many demonstrations.
In 1981 he founded the Committee to Monitor Poppers to educate the gay community about the hazards of using poppers. In 1986
Wilson co-authored a book with John Lauritsen entitled “Death Rush: Poppers and AIDS.” He also served several terms on the
SF HIV Prevention Planning Council and the UCSF CAPS Community Advisory Board.
Scope and Content of Collection
This collection consists of Hank Wilson’s subject files from 1972 to 2004. There are clippings, research materials, reports,
handbooks, flyers and brochures from Wilson’s years of activism. Also included in this collection are documents relating
to the various organizations that Wilson was involved in, which include memos, meeting minutes, correspondence, newsletters.
The first twelve boxes relate to Wilson’s early activism work with gay youth, educators and education. These boxes contain
materials from the various youth and education organizations that Wilson was involved with, and also includes clippings and
published materials. Boxes thirteen to eighteen and box twenty-five, relate to Wilson’s work with AIDS and also include some
research materials related to the disease. Wilson compiled a variety of subject files on AIDS-related issues, particularly
those concerning health, longevity and prevention. Boxes nineteen to twenty-four contain materials about Wilson’s work with
poppers. Wilson maintained subject files about popper advertisement, legislation and research materials. The last box contains
oversized materials.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
AIDS (Disease)
Amyl nitrite
Gay youth
San Francisco (Calif.)
s
Donald Montwill Papers next hit, Group I - Records of Valencia Rose, January 1982-1985 (1993-07), Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender
Historical Society of Northern California
ACT-UP Golden Gate Records, 1988-1993 (MSS 98-47), University of California, San Francisco
Collection Contents
Box 1 1973-1991 1979-1989
This box contains materials relating to San Francisco gay and lesbian youth and educators issues, homophobia, gay and lesbian
resources. In particular San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) policy’s regarding sex education, harassment of gay
youth, aids education, anti-slur policy, and youth suicide prevention school program. Wilson also has clippings, articles
and studies about gay youth suicides. Also included in this box are documents from organizations that Wilson was involved
in, which include BANGLE, CUAV (Community United Against Violence) Speakers Bureau, Gay Teachers Coalition, and the San Francisco
Gay Democratic Club. Other items in this box are correspondences with Bill Honig, materials from the First National Lesbian
and Gay Education Conference in July 1988, and a brochure "No on 6" about the California Proposition 6 Briggs initiative.
Box 2 1976-1998 1985-1993
This box contains materials about homophobia, gay and lesbian teacher, class curriculums, and gay youth issues, which include
gay youth suicide and harassment. There are documents relating to the Project 21, Project 10 and the Health Framework. Also
included are clippings, articles and other materials relating to gay youth suicides and arrestment of gay individuals. Wilson
collected homophobic pamphlets, flyer and other literature, as well as collecting clippings about homophobic individuals,
organizations and events. A majority of these materials are about or are produced by religious organizations and/or individuals.
Some of the organizations that are represented in this box are BANGLE, CUAV, IRATE (Irked Radicals addressing terrorism thru
empowerment) an affinity group of OUTRAGE San Francisco, and the Philadelphia Lesbian and Gay Task Force. Types of materials
included in this box are clippings, flyers, correspondence, articles, newsletters, meeting minutes, reports, and handbooks.
There are some paper back books included in the box, as well as Pink "MORALLY STRAIGHT" Scout's Honor bandanas.
Box 3 1972-1999 1985-1994
This box contains materials about gay and lesbian youth and students, class curriculums, gay teachers and youth suicide.
There are organization materials from PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), LYRIC (Lavender Youth Recreation
and Information Center), GLYAC (Gay Lesbian Youth Advocacy Council), and Act Up San Francisco, and BANGLE. Wilson served
on the board of GLYAC, and included in this box are his notes, meeting minutes, correspondence, and flyers. Also included
in this box are Project 21 reports from 1992-1994 and documents about Project 10. Types of documents in this box are notes,
meeting minutes, newsletters, workshop documents, reports, and flyers.
Box 4 1976-1993 1977-1989
This box contains materials about youth suicides, human sexuality education, gay rights and resources, and anti-gay crusades.
Wilson also collected materials relating to the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF), National Gay Task Force (NGTF),
Project 10 and CUAV. In this box there are Wilson’s research materials, clippings, conference materials about youth suicides,
in particular gay youth suicides. Also included in this box is "Demystifying Homosexuality: A Teaching Guide about Lesbian
and Gay Men" published by Human Rights Foundation, Inc. in 1984 as well as other educational materials. Hank has included
clippings, copies of printed materials, statistics and other documents about anti-gay crusades, which include materials about
Anita Bryant.
Box 5 1972-1993 1977- 1987
This box contains materials about homophobia, gay activism, gay education in San Francisco, and gay youth issues.
Organizations that are represented in this box are CUAV Speakers Bureau, Gay Democratic Club, Gay Teachers Coalition, Butterfly
Brigade, and the SFUSD Family Live Education Advisory Sub-Committee. Types of materials in this collection are correspondence,
memos, newsletters, clippings, publications, reports, pamphlets, and personal notes. Wilson has also collected materials
about anti-gay religious groups in this box, which include clippings, pamphlets, and flyers. Included in these materials
is a copy of the retraction from the Anita Bryan Ministries about SFUSD and teaching of homosexuality in schools that is dated
1979. Also included in this box are the correspondence, memos, and notes about the CUAV Speakers Bureau controversy.
Box 6 1977-1993 1979-1987
This box contains materials about gay youth issues, violence, gay political organizations, and sex education. A large
portion of this box contains materials from CUAV since Wilson served as a board member. There are materials about their violence
prevention programs, which include their whistle program, and the Speaker’s Bureau. Also included in these materials are
board-meeting minutes, agendas, memos, correspondence, clippings and notes. Also in this box are ALICE newsletters and Harvey
Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club materials. Types of materials included are brochures, memos, correspondence, clippings,
reports, notes, and published materials.
Box 7 1983-1995 1988-1992
This box contains materials about Project 10, Project 21, Health Framework, Lesbian and Gay Teachers Association, PFLAG, and
other gay youth programs. Included in this box are materials about San Francisco gay education, which covers the topic of
gay families, homophobia, AIDS education and suicide prevention programs. There are several folders regarding the California
Health Framework program, which includes drafts, correspondence and memos.
Box 8 1977-1993 1983-1993
This box contains materials about youth suicides, sex education, gay activism and regional policies on gay students. Some
of the organizations represented in this box are the LGTA (New York), NGLTF, and National Gay Alliance for Young Adults, PFLAG,
Join Select Task Force on the Changing Family and LYRIC. In this box there is a large amount of documents about gay youth
suicides that include clippings, reports, conference proceedings, memorandums, notes, and pamphlets. Also included in these
materials is "Exploration of potential suicide risk among gay men and lesbians" by Judith M. Saunders and S. M. Valente from
1986.
Box 9 1985-1998 1986-1990
This box contains materials about gay youth issues, homophobia, gay families and PFLAG newsletters. The types of materials
in this collection include reports, pamphlets, newsletters, correspondence, and clippings. There are clippings, reports,
memos and pamphlets relating to homophobia in schools. There are materials from the Campaign to End Homophobia, which includes
materials from their conference in 1988. There are materials from the Equity Institute, which includes newsletters and education
materials in dealing with homophobia in schools. Also in this box are articles and reports about homosexual adolescents.
Box 10 1987-1999
This box primarily contains records related to lesbian and gay youth issues, such as youth suicide, and gay athletes in
schools. There is also a significant amount of information related to sex education in public schools. Types of material
include resource guides, journal articles, bibliographies, clippings, reports, newsletters, pamphlets/brochures, and homophobia
workshop guides. Items of note include "Tales from the Closet" a comic book series for gay adolescents, and "Fight the Right"
action kits. Project 10 and Project 21 records are also included. There are several folders of Siecus information.
Box 11 1984-1999
This box primarily contains information related to school curriculum, with an emphasis on creating safe schools for gay and
lesbian students. Types of material include lesson plans, Frameworks for CA public schools, resource guides for teachers,
workshop guides, journal articles, and clippings. There is "Campaign to End Homophobia" material, a bibliography of lesbian
and gay sports studies and a small PFLAG folder.
Box 12 1980-2002 1987-1996
This box primarily contains records related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues in education. There are
correspondence from the Gay and Lesbian Youth Advocacy Council (1993-1995). Conference programs from Stand and Deliver GLSTN
National Conference (1997) and Young Loud Proud Youth Leadership Conference (1999). There are numerous training handbooks
for educators, as well as a significant amount of lesbian and gay bibliographies for schools and public libraries. There
is information from SIECUS (Sex Information and Education Council), Community United Against Violence (CUAV), GLSEN and the
"Scouting for All" campaign. There is also a small amount of information on parent involvement programs. There is one folder
on poppers. Types of material in this box include press releases, reports, journal articles, clippings, posters, newsletters,
pamphlets/brochures, e-mail print outs, and a small amount of correspondence.
Box 13 1979-2004 1985-2000
This box primarily contains records related to AIDS activism and civil disobedience. There are clippings and press releases
about the AIDS/ARC vigil (1985-2004). There is information related to the George Smoot killing, including a copy of the police
report, and a copy of "Findings of Investigation of Alleged Misconduct," and handwritten notes about the case. The majority
of the material in this box is related to the PWA Coalition or Caucus (People with AIDS) (1983-1995) and ACT UP SF/Golden
Gate (1990-1999). Types of materials include agendas, newsletters, minutes, correspondence to and from John Lorenzini, flyers,
broadsides, e-mail printouts, faxes, reports, and unpublished research papers. There is a significant amount of material
about "HIV dissidents" from ACT UP SF/Golden Gate. There is a small amount of material about the Lipodystrophy hotline and
a folder of ephemera. There is one large folder about the Ambassador Hotel (1979-1981, 1988-1999) which has clippings, photographs,
notes/letters to Wilson from clerks and residents, to do lists, and a notebook of "desk clerk notes." Some interesting items
are citations/tickets, which Wilson received from 1985-1991 for blocking entrances to buildings or trespassing.
Box 14 1982-2000 1990-1995
This box primarily contains records related to AIDS activism and drug treatment issues such as access, cost, and properties
of various drugs. There is material from ACT UP SF/Golden Gate (1991-1996) including a large amount of Wilson's handwritten
notes from Act Up's Treatment Issues Committee meetings (1989-1992) and a folder on the Sex Club and Bathhouse Educators Network
(1996). There is information about the SPV-30 informal Study, Sex Panic (organization), Community United Against Violence,
and the Gay Men's Health Summit held in Denver, CO (2000). There is also campaign material and letters of endorsement associated
with Wilson's 2000 run for supervisor in District 6. There is a small amount of material on lesbian and gay youth issues
interfiled in this box. Types of material include journal articles, press releases, flyers, faxes, reports, newspapers, clippings,
workshop handouts, pamphlets/brochures, and a small amount of correspondence.
Box 15 1989-2000
This box contains a wide variety of AIDS-related materials dating from 1989 to 2000. These include clippings from
newsletters, such as the Women’s Cancer Resource Center Update and News, from popular periodicals, such as Parade magazine,
from publications for People With AIDS, such as Poz, and from scholarly journals, such as JAMA. Some publications are bilingual
– either Spanish and English or French and English. There are also brochures from AIDS research centers and support groups;
conference abstracts and reports; correspondence; notes; and materials from activist and advocacy groups, such as ACT UP San
Francisco and Project Immune Restoration. Subjects covered include alternative treatments, holistic health, long-term survival
and survivors and nutrition. Many of the organizations represented in the collection come from outside the Bay Area. These
include Gay Men’s Health Crisis from New York, Women Alive from Los Angeles and Bastyr University’s AIDS Research Center in
Seattle.
Box 16 1991-1999
This box contains materials on alternative and experimental treatments for AIDS dating from 1991 to 1999. These include medical
and scholarly publications, such as the Journal of the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care and newsletters
from a variety of AIDS-related organizations, such as the Gay Men’s Health Crisis Newsletter of Experimental AIDS Therapies
and Resolute!, a regional publication of the PWA Coalition Colorado. There are also brochures; conference materials; e-mails;
informational materials on AIDS therapies downloaded from websites; memos; and notes. Subjects covered include acupuncture;
herbs; Hepatitis-C; NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine). Organizations represented include ACT UP San Francisco, the Centers for Disease
Control (CDC), the Forum for Collaborative HIV Research at George Washington University Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente,
Project Inform; and the Tenderloin AIDS Resource Center. Individuals whose publications appear in this box include Anthony
Louis Almada; Stephen Fried; and John S. James, publisher of AIDS Treatment News.
Box 17 1997-2001
This box contains AIDS-related materials dating from 1997 to 2001. Wilson organized some of the articles by author or
publication. Most materials concern treatment and well-being. There are articles from a variety of popular and scholarly
publications, such as the Bay Area Reporter, the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retroviology,
National AIDS Treatment Advocacy Reports and European AIDS Treatment News. Other records include conference materials, e-mails,
flyers, notes and reports. Subjects include drug treatment and therapy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Organizations
represented include ACT UP Golden Gate, the Food and Drug Administration, the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the San Francisco
Department of Public Health.
Box 18 1997-2003
This box contains materials related to harm reduction and prevention dating from 1997 to 2003. There are a wide variety of
materials, including articles, clippings, materials from workshops, notes, scholarly and popular publications, timelines,
and training source books. Publications include Harm Reduction Communication; HIV Plus; NASTAD HIV Prevention Bulletin.
Subjects covered include African Americans and AIDS, harm reduction, HIV prevention among drug users, HIV testing, prostitution
and standards of care. Organizations represented include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevent, the Harm Reduction
Coalition and the University of California-San Francisco.
Box 19 1977-1993 1979-1988
This box contains materials related to poppers. They are subject files dating from 1977 to 1993, bulk 1979 to 1988. Wilson
organized these materials by genre, publication or topic. Materials include advertisements and price lists for amyl nitrate,
clippings, correspondence, legislation, press releases, publications, regulations, research. There are files on Bay Area
Physicians for Human Rights; issues and legislation regarding poppers in various places, such as Oklahoma, Seattle and Wisconsin;
publications, such as Blue Boy, Christopher Street and Drummer and; Gay Men’s Health Crisis (GMHC); sexually transmitted diseases
(STDs).
Box 20 1981-1998 1983-1989
This box contains materials related to poppers. They are subject files dating from 1981 to 1998, bulk 1983 to 1989. Wilson
organized these files by publication or topic. The bulk of the materials include advertisements for, and articles about,
poppers, but there are also flyers and clippings from gay periodicals. There are files on legislation; Great Lakes Products;
MACS Questionnaire; the Stallion; and the University of San Francisco. Places represented include London, the Netherlands,
New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Texas and Utah. Languages are English and Dutch.
Box 21 1983-1995 1992-1995
This box contains materials related HIV/AIDS and poppers. They are subject files dating from 1983 to 1995, bulk 1992 to 1995.
Wilson organized these files by publication or topic. The materials include ads, clippings, correspondence, educational materials,
flyers, mailing lists, materials from the Committee to Monitor Poppers, notes and regulations. There are files on the Coalition
for Healthy Sex, community activism regarding poppers, the Harvey Milk Club, John Lauritsen, a poppers bust, safe sex and
sex clubs and bathhouses. Publications include the Advocate, the Bay Area Reporter, Christopher Street, Diseased Pariah News
and Focus: A Guide to AIDS Research and Counseling. Places represented include Australia, England, Germany, Minneapolis,
Sacramento, San Francisco and Toronto. Languages include English and German.
Box 22 1990-1997
This box contains materials related to HIV/AIDS and poppers. They are subject files dating from 1990 to 1997. Wilson
organized these files by publication or topic. The materials include ads, catalogs, clippings, conference materials,
correspondence, notes, publications, scholarly research and articles. Files topics include the Coalition for Healthy Sex,
the Department of Public Health Poppers Task Force, Drug Use and HIV/AIDS, Image Factory and Teen Drug Use. Publications
represented include the Bay Area Reporter, the London Gay Times and the Philadelphia Gay News. Places represented include
London, Philadelphia, New Zealand, New York, San Francisco, Texas and Wisconsin
Box 23 1986-2001 1992-1998
This box contains materials related to poppers. Most are subject files dating from 1986 to 2001, bulk 1992 to 1998. Wilson
organized most of these files by publication or topic. The materials include ads, clippings, conference materials,
correspondence, materials from the Coalition for Healthy Sex, order information, research and scholarly articles, resource
guides. Folders include AIDS, the Centers for Disease Control, Department of Public Health and HIV prevention. Publications
include the Advocate, Focus: A Guide to AIDS Research and Counseling, the Journal of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association
.
Box 24 1992-2000
This box contains materials covers topics about substance abuse, in particular its relation to HIV/AIDS. There are reports,
copies of scientific articles, emails, periodicals, clippings and presentations about nitrite inhalants (poppers), amphetamine
(speed), and methamphetamine (meth or ice). Included in this box is a bibliography prepared by Wilson on September 1997,
titled "Poppers (Nitrite Inhalants) and HIV."
Box 26 1977 -1999 1988-1998
This is a box of oversized materials. In this box are posters from CUAV, Project 10, AIDS Candlelight Vigil and an
advertisement for "Rush." Also includes are materials from the 39th ICAAC (Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents
and Chemotherapy). There are a large number of newspaper clippings that cover gay issues, which include gay education in
San Francisco and harassment of homosexuals. There is a copy of "Lust: The boy politic" from 1991, original "people labels"
from Boston 1988 "die in" PWA (People With AIDS) demonstration that were created by Wilson, and a copy of the lawsuit Pacific
Western Distributing Corp., et al. vs. Department of Consumer Protection, et al. from 1977 regarding the distribution of butyl
nitrite. There are a few photographs of Hank Wilson and demonstration that were held.