Gay Historian Stuart Timmons Recovering, Will Help with Harry Hay Tribute

You may remember Stuart Timmons as the co-author with Lillian Faderman of the book Gay LA. As members of this listserv, you may also recall that about two and a half years ago, Stuart suffered a massive stroke that left him at death's door for what seemed like a very long time. White Crane was involved in raising the funds necessary for the additional therapy Stuart was going to need. We knew then it was going to be a long hard road to recovery.

So it is with no small amount of pride and joy we report that with the attention and loving care of his family, especially his sister, Gay, and friends like as Mark Thompson - he's really made a remarkable recovery! So much so that it looks like he's going to help with the celebration of what would have been Harry Hay's 100th birthday. Nice to get some good news!

Thompson, a member of the White Crane Advisory Board, and former editor at The Advocate, sent this wonderful news about historian Stuart Timmons:

Longtime friends of author and community activist Stuart Timmons gathered last week to celebrate his remarkable recovery from a major stroke two-and-a-half years ago. Timmons, 53, is still wheelchair bound, but is now fully mentally alert and with the ability to speak and move about with assistance. He is expecting a return to his research and writing about GLBT history and is especially delighted with the invitation to participate in Centennial celebrations honoring the life and work of gay movement founder Harry Hay.

A two-day conference at City University New York and a major exhibition at the San Francisco Public Library are in the planning stages, with other cities soon to be included. Stuart wrote the award-winning biography on the legendary gay rights leader, The Trouble With Harry Hay, in 1990.  Harry Hay was born on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1912, in Worthing, England, although he lived many decades of his life in Los Angeles.

HRH Lee Mentley added:

Stuart is doing amazing well…, had a great lunch at “The Coffee Table” and he was alert with full memory correcting us on our history and although speaking slowly was participating in the conversation. Well on his way to full recovery! He spoke with Joey Cain on the phone and will be on the planning committee for the 100 Year Celebration for Harry Hay in San Francisco and New York City. It was a joy to be with him!

Many of you gave support for Stuart's recovery, so we wanted to let you know that it was money well spent. Stuart Timmons is a walking library of GLBT history and of Harry Hay and John Burnside in particular. We need him and we need his genius.

Pictured in the photo are: (left to right) Mark Thompson, Stuart Timmons, Robert Croonquist and HRH Lee Mentley.