Behind the scenes of the LGBT movement: the figure of Harry Hay and his ties to the KGB

Who really founded the LGBT movement in the United States? Behind this question lies an extraordinary and controversial figure: Harry Hay. Known as the “founder of the modern gay movement” and the “father of gay liberation,” Hay was a homosexual rights activist, communist, and workers’ supporter. He co-founded the Mattachine Society, the first homosexual rights group in the United States, and the Radical Faeries spiritual movement.

From an early age, Hay recognized his attraction to the same sex, embarking on intimate relationships that shaped his vision of the gay movement. A significant event occurred at 14, when Hay, lying about his age, got a job on a cargo ship. Here he met a sailor who introduced him to the idea of a “secret brotherhood” of gay men, a concept that Hay combined with a Stalinist definition of nationalist identity to argue that homosexuals constitute a “cultural minority.”

Another crucial encounter was with Will Geer, actor and gay activist, which led Hay to join the Communist Party USA (CPUSA). The CPUSA, funded by the USSR and supported by the KGB, had about 100,000 members and used a network of organizations to influence American public opinion. Although the CPUSA did not publicly support homosexual rights, Hay remained an active member for 13 years, marrying a woman, Anita Platky, to avoid suspicion.

In 1951, Hay asked to be expelled from the CPUSA, officially for “security risk,” but not for his homosexuality. After the expulsion, Hay divorced and dedicated himself to the cause of gay rights. With the help of Chuck Rowland and Bob Hull, he founded the Mattachine Society. The organization used CPUSA methods to raise awareness and educate members about social justice and homosexuality, growing rapidly across the country.

Hay wrote a manifesto in which he defined homosexuals as an “oppressed minority culture,” a vision that guided the Mattachine Society to become a powerful voice for LGBT rights in the United States. In the '70s, Hay continued his activism also in the political field.

Until his death in 2002, Hay remained a tireless fighter for the rights of sexual minorities. In 2000, the Arcus Foundation, one of the main funders of the LGBT movement, was created to carry on his work. Hay is remembered as a legendary figure of the gay movement, but his political and ideological connections offer a complex look at the origins of the LGBT movement in the United States.

He is not the only case of ties between the LGBT movement and communism. Karl-Günter Heimsoth, Leslie Feinberg, and Mark Ashton are other figures who, through their activism, helped shape the LGBT movement, all with ties to the communist parties of their respective countries. Frida Kahlo, the famous Mexican artist, was also an icon of the LGBTQ+ movement and a member of the Mexican Communist Party.

Today, the CPUSA actively supports the rights of the LGBTQ movement. However, the rapid growth and institutional support for the movement have raised concerns among part of the population, fueling divisions and social tensions. This dynamic reflects a complex strategy that has deep roots and significant implications for American society."