Guy Strait - Revision history

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Appearance: Links added and fixed

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	== Appearance ==		== Appearance ==
	[[File:Guy_Strait_1964.png\|thumb\|~~250px~~\|Guy Strait in 1964]]		[[File:Guy_Strait_1964.png\|thumb\|230px\|Guy Strait in 1964 <ref>[https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/Houston80s/Assorted%20Pubs/Citizens%20News/Citizens-News-64-65.pdf#page=14 "On The Air"]''Citizen News'', Volume III, Number 22, page 14</ref>]]
	The Illinois prosecutor who send Strait to jail said he "appears to be an intelligent, kind and affable cherub." The author Clifford L. Linedecker, who interviewed Strait in prison, describes him as having "a barrel body, thinning white hair that sticks straight out from his hair in clumps, a hearing aid, and reading glasses that slide down his nose disclosing watery blue eyes. He looked every bit a mischievous old troll." Strait himself, after warning readers of a young imposter, whom he described, then described himself, "The Editor is not at all like that and is: 5'5", wt 165, red eyes, greying hair, about 100, and with very little accent. In fact he looks exactly like a retired vice cop." <ref>[https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/Houston80s/Assorted%20Pubs/Citizens%20News/Citizens-News-64-65.pdf Strait, Guy. (1964, August 17). Imposter]. ''Citizen News'', Volume III, Number 21, page 11</ref>		The Illinois prosecutor who send Strait to jail said he "appears to be an intelligent, kind and affable cherub." The author Clifford L. Linedecker, who interviewed Strait in prison, describes him as having "a barrel body, thinning white hair that sticks straight out from his hair in clumps, a hearing aid, and reading glasses that slide down his nose disclosing watery blue eyes. He looked every bit a mischievous old troll." Strait himself, after warning readers of a young imposter, whom he described, then described himself, "The Editor is not at all like that and is: 5'5", wt 165, red eyes, greying hair, about 100, and with very little accent. In fact he looks exactly like a retired vice cop." <ref>[https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/Houston80s/Assorted%20Pubs/Citizens%20News/Citizens-News-64-65.pdf#page=12 Strait, Guy. (1964, August 17). Imposter]. ''Citizen News'', Volume III, Number 21, page 11</ref>

	== San Francisco Gay Rights Pioneer==		== San Francisco Gay Rights Pioneer==

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Photo added; linebreaks Senate testimony regularized

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	== Appearance ==		== Appearance ==
			[[File:Guy_Strait_1964.png\|thumb\|250px\|Guy Strait in 1964]]
	The Illinois prosecutor who send Strait to jail said he "appears to be an intelligent, kind and affable cherub." The author Clifford L. Linedecker, who interviewed Strait in prison, describes him as having "a barrel body, thinning white hair that sticks straight out from his hair in clumps, a hearing aid, and reading glasses that slide down his nose disclosing watery blue eyes. He looked every bit a mischievous old troll." Strait himself, after warning readers of a young imposter, whom he described, then described himself, "The Editor is not at all like that and is: 5'5", wt 165, red eyes, greying hair, about 100, and with very little accent. In fact he looks exactly like a retired vice cop." <ref>[https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/Houston80s/Assorted%20Pubs/Citizens%20News/Citizens-News-64-65.pdf Strait, Guy. (1964, August 17). Imposter]. ''Citizen News'', Volume III, Number 21, page 11</ref>		The Illinois prosecutor who send Strait to jail said he "appears to be an intelligent, kind and affable cherub." The author Clifford L. Linedecker, who interviewed Strait in prison, describes him as having "a barrel body, thinning white hair that sticks straight out from his hair in clumps, a hearing aid, and reading glasses that slide down his nose disclosing watery blue eyes. He looked every bit a mischievous old troll." Strait himself, after warning readers of a young imposter, whom he described, then described himself, "The Editor is not at all like that and is: 5'5", wt 165, red eyes, greying hair, about 100, and with very little accent. In fact he looks exactly like a retired vice cop." <ref>[https://www.houstonlgbthistory.org/Houston80s/Assorted%20Pubs/Citizens%20News/Citizens-News-64-65.pdf Strait, Guy. (1964, August 17). Imposter]. ''Citizen News'', Volume III, Number 21, page 11</ref>

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	== "It was not illegal at the time, sir." ==		== "It was not illegal at the time, sir." ==
	While accusations involving pornographic films were bandied about in the press in the 1973 scandal, none of the 90 indictments were for pornography, and Strait was sent to prison not for filming three Rockford boys, but for taking one of them to bed afterwards. Strait faced down Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming on legality when called before a Senate investigative subcommittee in May, 1977:		While accusations involving pornographic films were bandied about in the press in the 1973 scandal, none of the 90 indictments were for pornography, and Strait was sent to prison not for filming three Rockford boys, but for taking one of them to bed afterwards. Strait faced down Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming on legality when called before a Senate investigative subcommittee in May, 1977:
	<blockquote>Senator WALLOP. Did you know what you were doing was illegal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. The Supreme Court didn't say so.<br/>		<blockquote>Senator WALLOP. Did you know what you were doing was illegal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. The Supreme Court didn't say so.<br/>Senator WALLOP. Well, somebody has.<br/>Mr. STRAIT. I am not here in Illinois as a result of any filming, on the record. And if I were to offer my brief to the three Senators and if they found me guilty, I would withdraw my appeal.<br/>Senator WALLOP. But with regard to the activities of filming and making these loops, did you know that that was illegal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. It was not illegal at the time, sir.<br/>Senator WALLOP. So it was legal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. Sir?<br/>Senator WALLOP. You are claiming that it was legal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. At the time, yes.<br/>Senator WALLOP. And there were minors involved?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. Yes.<br/>Oh, I see what you are saying. The State law rather than the Federal.<br/>Senator WALLOP. State or Federal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. No, at that time it was legal, that was before Mr. Burger's court made its decision. You will have to remember, gentlemen, that I haven't had anything to do with the pornographic business involved for 4 years.<ref name=Senate_Protection /></blockquote>
	Senator WALLOP. Well, somebody has.<br/>
	Mr. STRAIT. I am not here in Illinois as a result of any filming, on the record. And if I were to offer my brief to the three Senators and if they found me guilty, I would withdraw my appeal.<br/>
	Senator WALLOP. But with regard to the activities of filming and making these loops, did you know that that was illegal?<br/>
	Mr. STRAIT. It was not illegal at the time, sir.<br/>
	Senator WALLOP. So it was legal?<br/>
	Mr. STRAIT. Sir?<br/>
	Senator WALLOP. You are claiming that it was legal?<br/>
	Mr. STRAIT. At the time, yes.<br/>
	Senator WALLOP. And there were minors involved?<br/>
	Mr. STRAIT. Yes.<br/>
	Oh, I see what you are saying. The State law rather than the Federal.<br/>
	Senator WALLOP. State or Federal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. No, at that time it was legal, that was before Mr. Burger's court made its decision. You will have to remember, gentlemen, that I haven't had anything to do with the pornographic business involved for 4 years.<ref name=Senate_Protection /></blockquote>
	== Los Angeles and Lyric ==		== Los Angeles and Lyric ==

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Early Life

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	Guy Strait was born in Texas in 1920, the tenth of eleven children.		Guy Strait was born in Texas in 1920, the tenth of eleven children.
	At the age of 18 he traveled across the Yucatan Peninsula photographing the unclad natives and passing out Bibles; in World War II he served in the Army; and in the early 1950's studied fine art at the Chicago Art Institute. He had a photography studio in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in the 1960's. <ref name=Linedecker1981>Linedecker, Clifford L. 1981. ''Children in chains''. New York: Everest House. </ref>		At the age of 18 he traveled across the Yucatan Peninsula photographing the unclad natives and passing out Bibles; in World War II he served in the Army; and in the early 1950's studied fine art at the Chicago Art Institute. He had a photography studio in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district in the 1960's. <ref name=Linedecker1981>Linedecker, Clifford L. 1981. ''Children in chains''. New York: Everest House. Chapter 14, "Chicken Hawk", focuses on Strait. </ref>

	== Appearance ==		== Appearance ==

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footnote link fixed

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	== Size of the market ==		== Size of the market ==

	Strait "was one of the nation's leading pornographers ... he had cornered the market on the production of ‘kiddie porn'," according to the ''Chicago Tribune''. <ref name=caught1977>"His Only Regret: I Got Caught". ''Chicago Tribune'', 17 May 1977, p. 8., via [~~http~~://www.~~idaillinois~~.~~org~~/~~cdm~~/~~ref~~/~~collection/isl/id/38313~~ Sexual Exploitation of ~~Children]~~, p. 144.</ref>		Strait "was one of the nation's leading pornographers ... he had cornered the market on the production of ‘kiddie porn'," according to the ''Chicago Tribune''. <ref name=caught1977>"His Only Regret: I Got Caught". ''Chicago Tribune'', 17 May 1977, p. 8., via [https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/46772NCJRS.pdf#page=147 Protection of Children Against Sexual Exploitation:] Hearings Before the Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency of the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate, p. 144.</ref>

	Strait's actual volume of business is hard to be sure of. The ''Chicago Tribune'' ascribes to "police" an estimate that he made $5 to $7 million in his career (id.). The high figure would average to just under $300,000 per year over his twenty year career. Linedecker's numbers are the unsupported figures of Lloyd, who claims DOM-Lyric put out ninety magazines with a wholesale price of $2.50, retail of $5.00, and initial print runs of 10,000, making a quarter million dollar gross. The print run is based on "distribution lists taken in police raids". Linedecker says the Illinois prosecutor told congressmen that Strait's distribution list had at one time 50,000 customers, but that Strait says there were 942 names. Strait's films were mail-order only, so the size of the distribution list is the upper limit for sales.		Strait's actual volume of business is hard to be sure of. The ''Chicago Tribune'' ascribes to "police" an estimate that he made $5 to $7 million in his career (id.). The high figure would average to just under $300,000 per year over his twenty year career. Linedecker's numbers are the unsupported figures of Lloyd, who claims DOM-Lyric put out ninety magazines with a wholesale price of $2.50, retail of $5.00, and initial print runs of 10,000, making a quarter million dollar gross. The print run is based on "distribution lists taken in police raids". Linedecker says the Illinois prosecutor told congressmen that Strait's distribution list had at one time 50,000 customers, but that Strait says there were 942 names. Strait's films were mail-order only, so the size of the distribution list is the upper limit for sales.

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Ostracism and death

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	Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.		Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.

	Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.<ref~~>[https:~~/~~/digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf "Guy Strait Arrested"], ''Gay Crusader'', December 1975, Issue 24</ref~~> A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.<ref name=jailed /> A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

	The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

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Scandal, flight and prison: footnote fix

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	Strait says he jumped bail and the charges were later dropped. Linedecker says he "became something of a cause célèbre for a time." Robin Lloyd quotes one of Strait's magazines as saying he was in Turkey or Greece but that police thought he was in New York.		Strait says he jumped bail and the charges were later dropped. Linedecker says he "became something of a cause célèbre for a time." Robin Lloyd quotes one of Strait's magazines as saying he was in Turkey or Greece but that police thought he was in New York.

	He appears to have rather been bouncing in and out of prison. Court and newspaper records provide a rough chronology. Strait made a pornographic movie with minors in Rockford, Illinois, on March 1-2, 1972; was arrested in the Lyric scandal around Labor Day of 1973; and was serving time in Springfield, Missouri in December of 1975 after a conviction on Federal charges.<ref>[http://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf "Guy Strait Jailed!"]. ''Gay ~~Pride~~ Crusader''. Issue 24, December 1975, p. 3</ref> He must have been released, as he was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona on April 23 of 1976, and extradited to Illinois on the Rockford charges.		He appears to have rather been bouncing in and out of prison. Court and newspaper records provide a rough chronology. Strait made a pornographic movie with minors in Rockford, Illinois, on March 1-2, 1972; was arrested in the Lyric scandal around Labor Day of 1973; and was serving time in Springfield, Missouri in December of 1975 after a conviction on Federal charges.<ref name=jailed>[http://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf#page=2 "Guy Strait Jailed!"]. ''Gay Crusader''. San Francisco. Issue 24, December 1975, p. 3</ref> He must have been released, as he was arrested in Phoenix, Arizona on April 23 of 1976, and extradited to Illinois on the Rockford charges.

	== Rockford case ==		== Rockford case ==

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Ostracism and death

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	Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.		Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.

	Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.<ref>[https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf "Guy Strait Arrested"], ''Gay ~~Pride~~ Crusader'', December 1975, Issue 24</ref> A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.<ref>[https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf "Guy Strait Arrested"], ''Gay Crusader'', December 1975, Issue 24</ref> A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

	The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

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Ostracism and death: Source added

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	Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.		Strait was released from prison in Illinois in 1980, just after his sixtieth birthday. While online rumor claims he left the country and died in exile in Europe, he seems to have lived and died humbly in San Francisco. The Polk's Directory for San Francisco for 1981 has a Guy Strait at 349b 10th St, repeated in the 1982 edition, but not in the 1980 edition.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1217/mode/1up Polks 1981 p 1217]</ref> It is a neighborhood of two-story buildings, and Polk's shows Strait's neighbors included an auto-body shop, muffler shop, crankshaft grinder, plumber and similar services.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/sanfranciscosanf1981rlpo#page/1407/mode/1up Polk's]</ref>.

	Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.~~(source needed)~~ A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		Strait had been shunned by the organized gay community long before his arrest. The exit of cofounder José Sarria and others from LCE was a revolt against Strait's autocratic style.<ref>[https://digitalassets.lib.berkeley.edu/sfbagals/Gay_Pride_Crusader/1975_Gay_Crusader_No24_Dec.pdf "Guy Strait Arrested"], ''Gay Pride Crusader'', December 1975, Issue 24</ref> A 1966 letter from a director of gay rights organization ONE, Inc, refers disdainfully to "... those whose primary interest is 'fun for the homosexual'. Possibly there should be included also one more division, the people who are out to make a buck for themselves. For such reasons I find it very difficult to place Tavern Guild, Guy Strait, physique publication editors and some others as being part of the Homophile Movement".<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/29621/show/29609/rec/2 Conger, Dick. 24 March 1966. Letter to Warren D. Atkins]. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref>Another letter, this to ONE organizer Bois Burk, observes that while there’s room for plenty of organizations, "those which perform no real service, or are improperly conducted will fade away, even as it now appears Guy Strait may be doing."<ref>[https://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/35786/show/35781/rec/3 Letter to Bois Burk, 9 February 1967.] ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

	The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>		The disparagement of Strait wasn't confined to private letters, but also appeared in ONE's newsletter. <blockquote>Evidently undisturbed by scruples of this sort, Guy Strait, San Francisco publisher of a number of irresponsible and often completely untruthful scandal sheets, used three votes whenever it pleased him to do so, despite his having published a statement that he is not an organization, and that his interest is in making money. Some of the delegates wondered why he should have been allowed on the premises at all. At one point, rising from his seat he stated that he had often been called a "dirty old man" and may have mistaken the laughter from delegates as being in disagreement instead of as applause for the so candid self-revelation.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/12098/rec/8 “What is a homophile organization?”] ''ONE confidential'', volume 11, number 9 (1966 September). Issued monthly. ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives.</ref></blockquote> The name-calling was reciprocated, with one edition of Citizen News leading with, "THE HOMOSEXUAL VIEWPOINT FROM ONE MAGAZINE, OR HOW PHONY CAN YOU GET! Written By Guy Strait, Editor of the CN", reproducing and criticizing a ONE editorial.<ref>[http://digitallibrary.usc.edu/cdm/compoundobject/collection/p15799coll4/id/25585/show/25563/rec/4 Press regarding ONE, Inc]. (1954/1969), ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archives</ref>

Sneeuwbol: /* The boy who killed himself */ source

2021-01-17T20:51:48Z

The boy who killed himself: source

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	== The boy who killed himself ==		== The boy who killed himself ==

	One of the few online sources on Strait mentions "the boy who killed himself in the affair involving the arrest of the photographer Guy Strait." (reference ~~needed)~~ According to the ''Chicago Tribune'', Strait's "... only regret is the three boys testified against him. 'Their lives were ruined because they went to trial. One boy eventually committed suicide.'" <ref name=caught1977 /> While Strait attributes the suicide to testifying, various authors who mention him seem to take that attitude that if the boy had to testify the blame was all Strait's. However, the "affair" was not the scandal that brought down Lyric, and the boy was not one of the Lyric boys seen around [[the pool with the cinderblock walls]] at the Lyric studio.		One of the few online sources on Strait mentions "the boy who killed himself in the affair involving the arrest of the photographer Guy Strait."<ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/digital/collection/isl/id/38172/rec/173 Sexual exploitation of children: a report to the Illinois General Assembly] The original reference is no longer online. The IGA report, p. 167, says Strait "lamented the suicide of one of the boys, commenting that he killed himself because he had to go to trial."</ref> According to the ''Chicago Tribune'', Strait's "... only regret is the three boys testified against him. 'Their lives were ruined because they went to trial. One boy eventually committed suicide.'" <ref name=caught1977 /> While Strait attributes the suicide to testifying, various authors who mention him seem to take that attitude that if the boy had to testify the blame was all Strait's. However, the "affair" was not the scandal that brought down Lyric, and the boy was not one of the Lyric boys seen around [[the pool with the cinderblock walls]] at the Lyric studio.

	== Guy Strait and J. Edgar Hoover ==		== Guy Strait and J. Edgar Hoover ==

Sneeuwbol: not illegal at the time

2020-01-24T16:06:01Z

not illegal at the time

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	Strait later said he got into the pornography business when he was offered $2,000 each to lay out two magazines. The money was easy, the competition was low quality, and he already had "thousands of negatives". [[Robin Lloyd]] claims Strait was responsible for the "first of the commercial chicken magazines, ''Hombre'', ''Chico'', and ''Naked Boyhood'' were among the titles." <ref>Lloyd, Robin. 1976. For money or love: boy prostitution in America. New York: Vanguard Press.</ref>		Strait later said he got into the pornography business when he was offered $2,000 each to lay out two magazines. The money was easy, the competition was low quality, and he already had "thousands of negatives". [[Robin Lloyd]] claims Strait was responsible for the "first of the commercial chicken magazines, ''Hombre'', ''Chico'', and ''Naked Boyhood'' were among the titles." <ref>Lloyd, Robin. 1976. For money or love: boy prostitution in America. New York: Vanguard Press.</ref>

	Strait told a Senate subcommittee that he wouldn't photograph children under fourteen for pornography. "Over fourteen, I don't consider them children. They're sexually mature. Let's say fourteen is not a child, thirteen may or may not be, and fifteen sure as hell is not." He claimed to have no trouble finding models. "No one jumps in front of a camera for money. These kids do it for ego. Take a youngster who has never been appreciated. You tell him he's good looking enough to be in front of a camera and people will want to see him and be interested."<ref>[https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/46772NCJRS.pdf PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION Hearings before the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency], 95th Congress, 1st Session, Chicago, Ill., May 27, 1977, Washington, DC. June 16, 1977, pp. 22-34</ref> According to the Illinois Legislative Investigating Committee, he claims never to have filmed children in sexual activity with adults. <ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/isl/id/38313 ''Sexual Exploitation of Children'', a report to the General Assembly]. Illinois Legislative Investigating Committee. Chicago, Ill. August 1980. p. 167.</ref>		Strait told a Senate subcommittee that he wouldn't photograph children under fourteen for pornography. "Over fourteen, I don't consider them children. They're sexually mature. Let's say fourteen is not a child, thirteen may or may not be, and fifteen sure as hell is not." He claimed to have no trouble finding models. "No one jumps in front of a camera for money. These kids do it for ego. Take a youngster who has never been appreciated. You tell him he's good looking enough to be in front of a camera and people will want to see him and be interested."<ref name=Senate_Protection>[https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/46772NCJRS.pdf PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AGAINST SEXUAL EXPLOITATION Hearings before the Senate Subcommittee to Investigate Juvenile Delinquency], 95th Congress, 1st Session, Chicago, Ill., May 27, 1977, Washington, DC. June 16, 1977, pp. 22-34</ref> According to the Illinois Legislative Investigating Committee, he claims never to have filmed children in sexual activity with adults. <ref>[http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm/ref/collection/isl/id/38313 ''Sexual Exploitation of Children'', a report to the General Assembly]. Illinois Legislative Investigating Committee. Chicago, Ill. August 1980. p. 167.</ref>
			== "It was not illegal at the time, sir." ==
	It ~~is worth noting that~~ at ~~Strait's prime in~~ the ~~pornography business~~, ~~the [[age of consent]] in many states was fourteen~~. While accusations involving pornographic films were bandied about in the press in the 1973 scandal, none of the 90 indictments were for pornography, and Strait was sent to prison not for filming three Rockford boys, but for taking one of them to bed afterwards.		While accusations involving pornographic films were bandied about in the press in the 1973 scandal, none of the 90 indictments were for pornography, and Strait was sent to prison not for filming three Rockford boys, but for taking one of them to bed afterwards. Strait faced down Senator Malcolm Wallop of Wyoming on legality when called before a Senate investigative subcommittee in May, 1977:
			<blockquote>Senator WALLOP. Did you know what you were doing was illegal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. The Supreme Court didn't say so.<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. Well, somebody has.<br/>
			Mr. STRAIT. I am not here in Illinois as a result of any filming, on the record. And if I were to offer my brief to the three Senators and if they found me guilty, I would withdraw my appeal.<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. But with regard to the activities of filming and making these loops, did you know that that was illegal?<br/>
			Mr. STRAIT. It was not illegal at the time, sir.<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. So it was legal?<br/>
			Mr. STRAIT. Sir?<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. You are claiming that it was legal?<br/>
			Mr. STRAIT. At the time, yes.<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. And there were minors involved?<br/>
			Mr. STRAIT. Yes.<br/>
			Oh, I see what you are saying. The State law rather than the Federal.<br/>
			Senator WALLOP. State or Federal?<br/>Mr. STRAIT. No, at that time it was legal, that was before Mr. Burger's court made its decision. You will have to remember, gentlemen, that I haven't had anything to do with the pornographic business involved for 4 years.<ref name=Senate_Protection /></blockquote>
	== Los Angeles and Lyric ==		== Los Angeles and Lyric ==

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	Defendant moved to dismiss the charge on due process and double jeopardy grounds, claiming that reprosecution was barred because he never received appellate review of the sufficiency of the evidence in the first trial. (See People v. Taylor (1979), 76 Ill.2d 289, 391 N.E.2d 366.) He did not, however, reassert his claim that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the original prosecution of the cause. In denying the motion, the trial court noted the reversal was obtained because of a defective information. Thus, the court determined that the case should be treated the same as a retrial following a reversal for trial errors not based on the sufficiency of the evidence. (See ''United States v. Ball'' (1896), 163 U.S. 662, 41 L.Ed. 300, 16 S.Ct. 1192.) The court accordingly held that reprosecution did not violate double jeopardy principles.		Defendant moved to dismiss the charge on due process and double jeopardy grounds, claiming that reprosecution was barred because he never received appellate review of the sufficiency of the evidence in the first trial. (See People v. Taylor (1979), 76 Ill.2d 289, 391 N.E.2d 366.) He did not, however, reassert his claim that he was not proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in the original prosecution of the cause. In denying the motion, the trial court noted the reversal was obtained because of a defective information. Thus, the court determined that the case should be treated the same as a retrial following a reversal for trial errors not based on the sufficiency of the evidence. (See ''United States v. Ball'' (1896), 163 U.S. 662, 41 L.Ed. 300, 16 S.Ct. 1192.) The court accordingly held that reprosecution did not violate double jeopardy principles.

	Defendant subsequently entered a negotiated plea of guilty to the renewed charge. After the factual basis of the charge was recited, and defendant was admonished, the trial court accepted the guilty plea and sentenced defendant to 8 1/2 years of imprisonment pursuant to the plea agreement. No motion to withdraw the plea was filed, nor was a direct appeal taken pursuant to Supreme Court Rules 604(d) and 605(b) (87 Ill.2d R. 604(d) and 605(b)).		Defendant subsequently entered a negotiated plea of guilty to the renewed charge. After the factual basis of the charge was recited, and defendant was admonished, the trial court accepted the guilty plea and sentenced defendant to 8 1/2 years of imprisonment pursuant to the plea agreement. No motion to withdraw the plea was filed, nor was a direct appeal taken pursuant to Supreme Court Rules 604(d) and 605(b) (87 Ill.2d R. 604(d) and 605(b)).<ref>[http://www.leagle.com/decision/1982624110IllApp3d514_1555/PEOPLE%20v.%20STRAIT 110 Ill. App.3d 514 (1982)]</ref></blockquote>
	<ref>[http://www.leagle.com/decision/1982624110IllApp3d514_1555/PEOPLE%20v.%20STRAIT 110 Ill. App.3d 514 (1982)]</ref></blockquote>

	== Ostracism and death ==		== Ostracism and death ==
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	This anecdote told in the 1980s by fellow gay rights crusader José Sarria, with whom Strait had founded LCE, dissidents from which founded SIR - Society for Individual Rights, suggests that the years had not soothed passions, and both shared nonpersonhood:		This anecdote told in the 1980s by fellow gay rights crusader José Sarria, with whom Strait had founded LCE, dissidents from which founded SIR - Society for Individual Rights, suggests that the years had not soothed passions, and both shared nonpersonhood:

	<blockquote>"Guy Strait is still alive. He went to prison and spent quite a bit of time in there. He was arrested for pornography along with an heir to a large American company who was able to get out of the country and live in North Africa, while Guy wasn't able to. He stayed here and took the brunt of it. He was finally let out of prison in Illinois.<br/>		<blockquote>"Guy Strait is still alive. He went to prison and spent quite a bit of time in there. He was arrested for pornography along with an heir to a large American company who was able to get out of the country and live in North Africa, while Guy wasn't able to. He stayed here and took the brunt of it. He was finally let out of prison in Illinois.<br/>
	"SIR collapsed after seventeen years, but there was a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its founding a few years back. Invitations were sent out inviting people to come and celebrate the years of SIR. I went. Guy Strait went. A lot of early, early people that belonged to the League for Civil Education and later joined SIR went. People were honored. The president was honored, and this and that and the other thing—and they very nicely ignored Guy Strait and myself. That's the way the whole evening went; we were very nicely ignored. SIR appeared. They didn't say how SIR came to pass. SIR appeared because the League appeared first I guess ''Jesus'' made the league and three days later SIR appeared. I guess SIR just fell out of the sky!".<ref>Gorman, M. R. (1998). ''The empress is a man: Stories from the life of José Sarria''. New York: Haworth Press. p. 199</ref></blockquote>		"SIR collapsed after seventeen years, but there was a celebration of the twentieth anniversary of its founding a few years back. Invitations were sent out inviting people to come and celebrate the years of SIR. I went. Guy Strait went. A lot of early, early people that belonged to the League for Civil Education and later joined SIR went. People were honored. The president was honored, and this and that and the other thing—and they very nicely ignored Guy Strait and myself. That's the way the whole evening went; we were very nicely ignored. SIR appeared. They didn't say how SIR came to pass. SIR appeared because the League appeared first I guess ''Jesus'' made the league and three days later SIR appeared. I guess SIR just fell out of the sky!".<ref>Gorman, M. R. (1998). ''The empress is a man: Stories from the life of José Sarria''. New York: Haworth Press. p. 199</ref></blockquote>