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{{Short description|American activist, writer & actor}}
{{in use}}
{{Infobox person
'''John Paul Hudson''' (1929-2002) was an American gay activist, writer, and actor.
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| birth_date = {{birth date|1929|03|21}}
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| death_date = {{death date and age|2002|02|18|1929|03|21}}
| death_place = [[Honesdale, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| nationality = American
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| occupation = {{hlist|Gay activist|writer|actor}}
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'''John Paul Hudson''' (March 21, 1929 – February 18, 2002<ref name="LOC">{{cite web |title=LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress) |url=http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/nr96034685.html |website=Library of Congress |accessdate=9 January 2020}}</ref>) was an American gay activist, writer, and actor. He was one of the organizers of the first [[gay pride]] march in New York City and is recognized as one of the first gay activists and preservers of American gay history. He was also known by the [[pseudonym]] '''John Francis Hunter''', a name under which Hudson wrote early gay travel guides for the United States.<ref name="Publishing2002">{{cite book|author=Here Publishing|title=The Advocate|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-WIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA17|date=2 April 2002|publisher=Here Publishing|page=17}}</ref>


==Career==
==Early life==


'''John Paul Hudson''' was born on March 21, 1929.<ref name="whitecrane"/> As a young man, he chose to change his name to John Paul Hudson. His close family and friends called him "Jack".<ref>“[http://www.deseretnews.com/article/368635/DEATH--MARY-LEE-BOSWELL.html DEATH: MARY LEE BOSWELL].” ''Deseret News'', Deseret News, 8 Aug. 1994.</ref>
⚫
As a journalist, Hudson was a longtime employee of [[Time Inc.]] and [[WarnerMedia]].<ref name="TimesObit">“Obituaries: John Paul Hudson.” The Times Tribune, 27 Feb. 2002.</ref> Hudson also freelanced, contributing to ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'', ''[[Gay (magazine)|Gay]]'', ''[[Gay News]]'', ''[[Gaysweek]]'', ''David'', ''NewsWest'', ''Flash'', and ''Vector''.<ref>“[http://www.whitecraneinstitute.org/newsletter/gay-wisdom-303?frame=0 This Day in Gay History]].” Gay Wisdom, White Crane Institute, 28 Apr. 2019.</ref><ref>Kohler, Will. “[http://www.back2stonewall.com/2013/04/week-gay-history-april-28-4.html This Week In Gay History April 28 - May 4: Alice B, Billie Jean, Gay Bar Terrorist Attack and More.]” Back2Stonewall, 28 Apr. 2013.</ref>


==Career==
⚫
As an actor, producer, and director, he was a member of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], and was active in off-Broadway theater, television and film.<ref name="TimesObit"/> In 1972, Hudson played “Smiley” in [[Robert Downey, Sr.]]'s comedy-western movie ''[[Greaser's Palace]]''.<ref>“[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068659 Greaser's Palace.]” IMDb, IMDb.com, 8 Nov. 1973.</ref> Hudson appeared on New York's ''Emerald City'' gay television talk show on July 1, 1978 along with [[Grace Jones]].<ref>“‘[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2208429/ Emerald City’ Episode Dated 1 July 1978.]” IMDb, IMDb.com, 1 July 1978.</ref>


==Activism==
===Writing===
⚫
As a journalist, Hudson was a longtime employee of [[Time Inc.]] and [[WarnerMedia]].<ref name="TimesObit">“Obituaries: John Paul Hudson.” The Times Tribune, 27 Feb. 2002.</ref> Hudson also freelanced, contributing to ''[[The Advocate (LGBT magazine)|The Advocate]]'', ''[[Gay (magazine)|Gay]]'', ''[[Gay News]]'', ''[[Gaysweek]]'', ''David'', ''NewsWest'', ''Flash'', and ''Vector''.<ref name="whitecrane">“[http://www.whitecraneinstitute.org/newsletter/gay-wisdom-303?frame=0 This Day in Gay History].” Gay Wisdom, White Crane Institute, 28 Apr. 2019.</ref><ref>Kohler, Will. “[http://www.back2stonewall.com/2013/04/week-gay-history-april-28-4.html This Week In Gay History April 28 - May 4: Alice B, Billie Jean, Gay Bar Terrorist Attack and More.]” Back2Stonewall, 28 Apr. 2013.</ref>


⚫
For his early literary works, he wrote under the pseudonym '''John Francis Hunter'''. Those early works were self-published and chronicled a largely promiscuous gay lifestyle of the early 1970s, providing [[travel guide]]s to the New York and American gay scene. In spite of this apparent celebration of promiscuity, John Paul advocated total celibacy as being the responsible behavior required by the times during the [[AIDS crisis]] of the following decade.<ref name="Kennedy">Kennedy, Joe, and Jack Nichols. “[http://gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/022502ev.htm John Paul Hudson--Stonewall Era Author & Activist Dies at 73.]” Gay Today: A Global Site for Daily Gay News.</ref> These books are credited as being among the first gay travel guides in the United States.<ref name="Publishing2002"/>
In the wake of the 1969 [[Stonewall riots]], Hudson was one of the principal organizers of the [[Christopher Street Liberation Day]] committee, which organized New York City's first [[gay pride festival|gay pride march]].<ref>The Communication Blog. 2013. [http://tcbdevito.blogspot.com/2013/07/gay-pride-and-spiral-of-silence.html Gay Pride and the Spiral of Silence]. [Accessed 18 December 2018].</ref> held in 1970 to commemorate the first anniversary of the riots. Hudson served as the march's first Grand Marshal.<ref> Murphy, Mary Jo. “[http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/arts/weekend-entertainments-from-the-archives-of-the-new-york-times.html New York's First Gay Pride Parade].” The New York Times, The New York Times, 26 June 2015.</ref>


⚫
He co-wrote the novel ''SUPERSTAR MURDER: A Prose Flick.'' with Warren Wexler in 1976. This novel/screenplay was a murder-mystery romp based on the premise of a [[Bette Midler]]-styled [[drag queen]] being murdered at a bathhouse modeled after the Continental Baths in New York. The role of protagonist "Guido" was purportedly written to be played by [[David Cassidy]].<ref>Schiavi, and Michael. “[http://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/51815 Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo].” Project MUSE, University of Wisconsin Press.</ref>
⚫
John Paul Hudson was the library and archivist for the New York Chapter of the [[Mattachine Society]]. He was also a member of the [[Gay Activists Alliance]] and vice president of the National Coalition of Gay Activists.
⚫
<ref name="FindingAid">“[http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8wm1f0j/entire_text/ Finding Aid of John Paul Hudson Typescript, Letters from Lovers and Lawbreakers Coll2012.120.]” Online Archive of California, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref> He later served as a co-Master-of-Ceremonies of the Pride Rally in Central Park in 1976, along with activist [[Karla Jay]].<ref>Jay, Karla. “[http://www.karla-jay.com/activism Karla Jay, PhD].” Karla Jay, Author & Activist.</ref>


Hudson was also a lyricist. He wrote "Love Is", based on the 13th chapter of St. Paul's "First Letter to the Corinthians".<ref name="Kennedy"/>
⚫
==Later life and legacy==


===Acting===
⚫
Hudson's personal papers are held in the collection of the [[ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives]].<ref name="FindingAid"/>
⚫
As an actor, producer, and director, he was a member of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], and was active in off-Broadway theater, television and film.<ref name="TimesObit"/> In 1972, Hudson played “Smiley” in [[Robert Downey, Sr.]]'s comedy-western movie ''[[Greaser's Palace]]''.<ref>“[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068659 Greaser's Palace.]” IMDb, IMDb.com, 8 Nov. 1973.</ref> Hudson appeared on New York's [[Channel J|''The'' ''Emerald City'']] gay television talk show on July 1, 1978, along with [[Grace Jones]].<ref>“‘[http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2208429/ Emerald City’ Episode Dated 1 July 1978.]” IMDb, IMDb.com, 1 July 1978.</ref>


===Activism===


⚫
For his early literary works, he wrote under the pseudonym '''John Francis Hunter'''. Those early works were self-published and chronicled a largely promiscuous gay lifestyle of the early 1970s. In spite of this apparent celebration of promiscuity, John Paul advocated total celibacy as being the responsible behavior required by the times during the AIDS crisis of the following decade.<ref>Kennedy, Joe, and Jack Nichols. “John Paul Hudson--Stonewall Era Author & Activist Dies at 73.” Gay Today: A Global Site for Daily Gay News, gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/022502ev.htm.</ref>


On April 28, 1970, Hudson declared himself "awakening as a born-again radical." He celebrated his birthday annually on this day, in celebration of his activism.<ref name="whitecrane"/>
His literary contributions ultimately included:


⚫
John Paul Hudson was the librarian and archivist for the New York Chapter of the [[Mattachine Society]]. He was also a member of the [[Gay Activists Alliance]] and vice president of the National Coalition of Gay Activists.
The Gay Insider: A Hunter's Guide to New York and A Thesaurus of Phallic Lore (1971)<ref>Hunter, J., 1971. A Hunter's Guide to New York and A Thesaurus of Phallic Lore. 1st ed. United States: Olympia Press.</ref>
⚫
<ref name="FindingAid">“[http://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8wm1f0j/entire_text/ Finding Aid of John Paul Hudson Typescript, Letters from Lovers and Lawbreakers Coll2012.120.]” Online Archive of California, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref> He later served as a co-Master-of-Ceremonies of the Pride Rally in Central Park in 1976, along with activist [[Karla Jay]].<ref>Jay, Karla. “[http://www.karla-jay.com/activism Karla Jay, PhD].” Karla Jay, Author & Activist.</ref>


⚫
==Later life and legacy==
The Gay Insider USA (1972)<ref>Hunter, J., 1972. The Gay Insider USA. 1st ed. United States: Stonehill Publishing.</ref>


Hudson was a [[Christian Scientist]].<ref name="TimesObit"/> He died February 18, 2002, in at a retirement community in [[Honesdale, Pennsylvania]].<ref name="Publishing2002"/><ref name="Kennedy"/>
⚫
Superstar Murder: A Prose Flick (1976)<ref>Hunter, J., and Wexler, W.,1976. Superstar Murder: A Prose Flick. 1st ed. United States: Insider Press.</ref> This novel/screenplay was a murder-mystery romp based on the premise of a Bette Midler-styled drag queen being murdered at a bathhouse modeled after the Continental Baths in New York. The role of protagonist "Guido" was purportedly written to be played by David Cassidy.<ref> Schiavi, and Michael. “Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo.” Project MUSE, University of Wisconsin Press, muse.jhu.edu/chapter/51815.</ref>


⚫
Hudson's personal papers are held in the collection of the [[ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives]].<ref name="FindingAid"/>
The Lost Commandment (2002) <ref>Hunter, J., 2002. Lost Commandment: How to Be Gay in the 21st Century. Xlibris Corporation </ref> (John Paul published "The Lost Commandment" only shortly before his passing).


==Works by John Paul Hudson==
Letters from Lovers and Lawbreakers<ref>Hunter, J., 1980.</ref> (This latter work was catalogued posthumously in 2012).<ref>Letters from Lovers and Lawbreakers: Edited, Answered and Augmented. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c8wm1f0j/entire_text/</ref>


*''The gay insider : a hunter's guide to New York and a thesaurus of phallic lore''. New York : The Traveller's Companion, Inc. (1971).
As a lyricist, he received critical acclaim for "Love Is", based on the 13th chapter of St. Paul's "First Letter to the Corinthians", in popular use for commitment and marriage ceremonies.<ref> Kennedy, Joe, and Jack Nichols. “John Paul Hudson--Stonewall Era Author & Activist Dies at 73.” Gay Today: A Global Site for Daily Gay News, gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/022502ev.htm.</ref> John Paul was of the Christian Science faith. <ref>“Obituaries: John Paul Hudson.” The Times Tribune, 27 Feb. 2002.</ref>
*''The gay insider, USA''. New York: Stonewall Publishing (1972).
*with Warren Wexler. ''SUPERSTAR MURDER. A Prose Flick.'' New York: Insider Press (1976).
*''The Lost Commandment: How to Be Gay in the 21st Century''. Self-published (2002). {{ISBN|1401030297}}


⚫
==References==
Although John Paul was born March 21, 1929, he celebrated his birthday on April 28, a day he commemorated as his “awakening as a born-again radical” in 1970.<ref>“This Day in Gay History.” Gay Wisdom, White Crane Institute, 28 Apr. 2019, www.whitecraneinstitute.org/newsletter/gay-wisdom-303?frame=0.</ref>
⚫
{{reflist}}


{{authority control}}
In addition to his pseudonym, John Francis Hunter, he also used other aliases during his life. Born “John Henry Hudson”, as a young adult he chose the name “Paul Hudson.” Later he resurrected the first name “John,” using “Paul” as his middle name.<ref> U.S. Social Security Applications Claim Index at Ancestry ... www.familytree.com/blog/u-s-social-security-applications-claim-index-at-ancestry-com/.</ref> His family and hometown friends referred to him as “Jack” throughout his life.<ref>“DEATH: MARY LEE BOSWELL.” DeseretNews.com, Deseret News, 8 Aug. 1994, www.deseretnews.com/article/368635/DEATH--MARY-LEE-BOSWELL.html.</ref>


{{DEFAULTSORT:Hudson, John Paul}}
John Paul ultimately passed away in a Bethany/Honesdale-area Pennsylvania retirement community at the age of 73, of natural causes.<ref> Kennedy, Joe, and Jack Nichols. “John Paul Hudson--Stonewall Era Author & Activist Dies at 73.” Gay Today: A Global Site for Daily Gay News, gaytoday.badpuppy.com/garchive/events/022502ev.htm.</ref>
[[Category:1929 births]]

[[Category:2002 deaths]]
⚫
==References==
[[Category:American LGBT rights activists]]
<!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. -->
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery people]]
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{{reflist}}
[[Category:American LGBT journalists]]
[[Category:American gay actors]]
[[Category:American gay writers]]
[[Category:Gay Christians]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Journalists from New York City]]
[[Category:American lyricists]]
[[Category:20th-century American writers]]
[[Category:21st-century American writers]]
[[Category:American Christian Scientists]]

Revision as of 19:37, 27 January 2024

John Paul Hudson
Born(1929-03-21)March 21, 1929
DiedFebruary 18, 2002(2002-02-18) (aged 72)
Honesdale, Pennsylvania, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
Occupations
  • Gay activist
  • writer
  • actor

John Paul Hudson (March 21, 1929 – February 18, 2002[1]) was an American gay activist, writer, and actor. He was one of the organizers of the first gay pride march in New York City and is recognized as one of the first gay activists and preservers of American gay history. He was also known by the pseudonym John Francis Hunter, a name under which Hudson wrote early gay travel guides for the United States.[2]

Early life

John Paul Hudson was born on March 21, 1929.[3] As a young man, he chose to change his name to John Paul Hudson. His close family and friends called him "Jack".[4]

Career

Writing

As a journalist, Hudson was a longtime employee of Time Inc. and WarnerMedia.[5] Hudson also freelanced, contributing to The Advocate, Gay, Gay News, Gaysweek, David, NewsWest, Flash, and Vector.[3][6]

For his early literary works, he wrote under the pseudonym John Francis Hunter. Those early works were self-published and chronicled a largely promiscuous gay lifestyle of the early 1970s, providing travel guides to the New York and American gay scene. In spite of this apparent celebration of promiscuity, John Paul advocated total celibacy as being the responsible behavior required by the times during the AIDS crisis of the following decade.[7] These books are credited as being among the first gay travel guides in the United States.[2]

He co-wrote the novel SUPERSTAR MURDER: A Prose Flick. with Warren Wexler in 1976. This novel/screenplay was a murder-mystery romp based on the premise of a Bette Midler-styled drag queen being murdered at a bathhouse modeled after the Continental Baths in New York. The role of protagonist "Guido" was purportedly written to be played by David Cassidy.[8]

Hudson was also a lyricist. He wrote "Love Is", based on the 13th chapter of St. Paul's "First Letter to the Corinthians".[7]

Acting

As an actor, producer, and director, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and was active in off-Broadway theater, television and film.[5] In 1972, Hudson played “Smiley” in Robert Downey, Sr.'s comedy-western movie Greaser's Palace.[9] Hudson appeared on New York's The Emerald City gay television talk show on July 1, 1978, along with Grace Jones.[10]

Activism

On April 28, 1970, Hudson declared himself "awakening as a born-again radical." He celebrated his birthday annually on this day, in celebration of his activism.[3]

John Paul Hudson was the librarian and archivist for the New York Chapter of the Mattachine Society. He was also a member of the Gay Activists Alliance and vice president of the National Coalition of Gay Activists. [11] He later served as a co-Master-of-Ceremonies of the Pride Rally in Central Park in 1976, along with activist Karla Jay.[12]

Later life and legacy

Hudson was a Christian Scientist.[5] He died February 18, 2002, in at a retirement community in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.[2][7]

Hudson's personal papers are held in the collection of the ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.[11]

Works by John Paul Hudson

  • The gay insider : a hunter's guide to New York and a thesaurus of phallic lore. New York : The Traveller's Companion, Inc. (1971).
  • The gay insider, USA. New York: Stonewall Publishing (1972).
  • with Warren Wexler. SUPERSTAR MURDER. A Prose Flick. New York: Insider Press (1976).
  • The Lost Commandment: How to Be Gay in the 21st Century. Self-published (2002). ISBN 1401030297

References

  1. ^ "LC Linked Data Service: Authorities and Vocabularies (Library of Congress)". Library of Congress. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c Here Publishing (2 April 2002). The Advocate. Here Publishing. p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c “This Day in Gay History.” Gay Wisdom, White Crane Institute, 28 Apr. 2019.
  4. ^ “DEATH: MARY LEE BOSWELL.” Deseret News, Deseret News, 8 Aug. 1994.
  5. ^ a b c “Obituaries: John Paul Hudson.” The Times Tribune, 27 Feb. 2002.
  6. ^ Kohler, Will. “This Week In Gay History April 28 - May 4: Alice B, Billie Jean, Gay Bar Terrorist Attack and More.” Back2Stonewall, 28 Apr. 2013.
  7. ^ a b c Kennedy, Joe, and Jack Nichols. “John Paul Hudson--Stonewall Era Author & Activist Dies at 73.” Gay Today: A Global Site for Daily Gay News.
  8. ^ Schiavi, and Michael. “Celluloid Activist: The Life and Times of Vito Russo.” Project MUSE, University of Wisconsin Press.
  9. ^ “Greaser's Palace.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 8 Nov. 1973.
  10. ^ “‘Emerald City’ Episode Dated 1 July 1978.” IMDb, IMDb.com, 1 July 1978.
  11. ^ a b “Finding Aid of John Paul Hudson Typescript, Letters from Lovers and Lawbreakers Coll2012.120.” Online Archive of California, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.
  12. ^ Jay, Karla. “Karla Jay, PhD.” Karla Jay, Author & Activist.
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