In 1971, Foster, along with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, transformed the SIR Political Action Committee into the Alice B. Toklas Memorial Democratic Club.[5] The Toklas club was the first gay Democratic club in country.[3] Also in 1971, Foster was instrumental in convincing Richard Hongisto to run for sheriff and in delivering gay votes to his winning campaign.[4] It became a truism of San Francisco politics that, as long-time activist José Sarria had put it, "nobody ran for anything in San Francisco without knocking on the door of the gay community."[6]
In 1972, after the Toklas club delivered one-third of the signatures needed to secure George McGovern the first position on the California Democratic primary ballot, Foster was added to the list of speakers at the 1972 Democratic National Convention. Originally, Foster had been given a prime time speaking slot, but George McGovern's campaign manager, future U.S. Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart, changed it to a 3:00 a.m. speaking slot. The campaign had decided they needed to tone down their radical image.[7] He and fellow delegate Madeline Davis were the first openly LGBT people ever to address a national party convention.[8] He called upon the Democratic Party to add a gay rights plank to the party platform,[9] saying:
We do not come to you begging your understanding or pleading your tolerance. We come to you affirming our pride in our lifestyle, affirming the validity of our right to seek and to maintain meaningful emotional relationships and affirming our right to participate in the life of this country on an equal basis with every citizen.[8]
Foster and other gay rights activists got a minority report to the floor, but the plank was defeated.[10]
Foster was approached by fledgling gay politician Harvey Milk in 1973. Milk sought Foster's endorsement for his first campaign for Supervisor. Foster, who through the Toklas club had staked out a position that it was best for the gay community to work with liberal establishment politicians than try to elect gay candidates, refused to support Milk's campaign.[11] This led to an enmity between the men which lasted until Milk's assassination in 1978. It has been suggested that this enmity, which extended to the Toklas club and the Milk-founded San Francisco Gay Democratic Club, may have hampered the LGBT community's early efforts to address the spread of HIV in San Francisco.[12]
In 1980, Foster served as the coordinator for northern California for Ted Kennedy's presidential campaign.[13] When Kennedy's campaign was struggling financially, Foster kept his local campaign office open using his own funds.[14] Kennedy credited Foster for delivering his victory in the 1980 California primary.[15]
Foster was a founding member of the San Francisco Health Commission in 1985.[16] In 1989 he was hired by pharmaceutical company Lymphomed as a consultant.
Foster died of an AIDS-related illness at his San Francisco home on October 31, 1990.[2]
^"Guide to the James M. Foster Papers, 1971–1990". Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. 2000. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
^ ab"Jim Foster, 55, Activist For Homosexual Rights and Democratic Party". San Jose Mercury News. 1990-11-02. p. 5B.
Armstrong, Elizabeth A. (2002). Forging Gay Identities: Organizing Sexuality in San Francisco, 1950–1994. Chicago, University of Chicago Press. ISBN0-226-02694-9.
Bianco, David (1999). Gay Essentials: Facts For Your Queer Brain. Los Angeles, Alyson Publications. ISBN1-55583-508-2.
Endean, Steve and Vicki Lynn Eaklor (2006). Bringing Lesbian and Gay Rights Into the Mainstream: Twenty Years of Progress. Haworth Press. ISBN1-56023-526-8.
Lockhart, John (2002). The Gay Man's Guide to Growing Older. Los Angeles, Alyson Publications. ISBN1-55583-591-0.
Marks Ridinger, Robert B. (2004). Speaking for Our Lives: Historic Speeches and Rhetoric for Gay and Lesbian Rights (1892–2000). Haworth Press. ISBN1-56023-175-0.
January 07, 2023
foster, activist, james, foster, november, 1934, october, 1990, american, lgbt, rights, democratic, activist, foster, became, active, early, rights, movement, when, moved, francisco, following, undesirable, discharge, from, united, states, army, 1959, being, h. James M Foster November 19 1934 1 October 31 1990 2 was an American LGBT rights and Democratic activist Foster became active in the early gay rights movement when he moved to San Francisco following his undesirable discharge from the United States Army in 1959 for being homosexual 3 Foster co founded the Society for Individual Rights SIR an early homophile organization in 1964 3 Dianne Feinstein credits SIR and the gay vote with generating her margin of victory in her election to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969 4 Jim FosterBornJames M Foster 1934 11 19 November 19 1934DiedOctober 31 1990 1990 10 31 aged 55 San Francisco CaliforniaCause of deathAIDS related illnessKnown forEarly LGBT rights activistIn 1971 Foster along with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon transformed the SIR Political Action Committee into the Alice B Toklas Memorial Democratic Club 5 The Toklas club was the first gay Democratic club in country 3 Also in 1971 Foster was instrumental in convincing Richard Hongisto to run for sheriff and in delivering gay votes to his winning campaign 4 It became a truism of San Francisco politics that as long time activist Jose Sarria had put it nobody ran for anything in San Francisco without knocking on the door of the gay community 6 In 1972 after the Toklas club delivered one third of the signatures needed to secure George McGovern the first position on the California Democratic primary ballot Foster was added to the list of speakers at the 1972 Democratic National Convention Originally Foster had been given a prime time speaking slot but George McGovern s campaign manager future U S Senator and presidential candidate Gary Hart changed it to a 3 00 a m speaking slot The campaign had decided they needed to tone down their radical image 7 He and fellow delegate Madeline Davis were the first openly LGBT people ever to address a national party convention 8 He called upon the Democratic Party to add a gay rights plank to the party platform 9 saying We do not come to you begging your understanding or pleading your tolerance We come to you affirming our pride in our lifestyle affirming the validity of our right to seek and to maintain meaningful emotional relationships and affirming our right to participate in the life of this country on an equal basis with every citizen 8 Foster and other gay rights activists got a minority report to the floor but the plank was defeated 10 Foster was approached by fledgling gay politician Harvey Milk in 1973 Milk sought Foster s endorsement for his first campaign for Supervisor Foster who through the Toklas club had staked out a position that it was best for the gay community to work with liberal establishment politicians than try to elect gay candidates refused to support Milk s campaign 11 This led to an enmity between the men which lasted until Milk s assassination in 1978 It has been suggested that this enmity which extended to the Toklas club and the Milk founded San Francisco Gay Democratic Club may have hampered the LGBT community s early efforts to address the spread of HIV in San Francisco 12 In 1980 Foster served as the coordinator for northern California for Ted Kennedy s presidential campaign 13 When Kennedy s campaign was struggling financially Foster kept his local campaign office open using his own funds 14 Kennedy credited Foster for delivering his victory in the 1980 California primary 15 Foster was a founding member of the San Francisco Health Commission in 1985 16 In 1989 he was hired by pharmaceutical company Lymphomed as a consultant Foster died of an AIDS related illness at his San Francisco home on October 31 1990 2 See also EditSexual orientation and the United States militaryNotes Edit Guide to the James M Foster Papers 1971 1990 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections Cornell University Library 2000 Retrieved 2008 12 09 a b Jim Foster 55 Activist For Homosexual Rights and Democratic Party San Jose Mercury News 1990 11 02 p 5B a b c Shilts 1993 p 168 a b Armstrong p 125 Armstrong p 126 Lockhart p 36 Shilts 1993 p 169 a b Bianco p 318 Ridinger p 176 Endean et al p 59 Shilts 1982 p 74 Shilts 1987 p 280 Endean et al p 222 Shrum p 112 Shilts 1987 p 347 Shilts 1987 p 523References EditArmstrong Elizabeth A 2002 Forging Gay Identities Organizing Sexuality in San Francisco 1950 1994 Chicago University of Chicago Press ISBN 0 226 02694 9 Bianco David 1999 Gay Essentials Facts For Your Queer Brain Los Angeles Alyson Publications ISBN 1 55583 508 2 Endean Steve and Vicki Lynn Eaklor 2006 Bringing Lesbian and Gay Rights Into the Mainstream Twenty Years of Progress Haworth Press ISBN 1 56023 526 8 Lockhart John 2002 The Gay Man s Guide to Growing Older Los Angeles Alyson Publications ISBN 1 55583 591 0 Shilts Randy 1982 The Mayor of Castro Street New York St Martin s Press ISBN 0 312 52331 9 Shilts Randy 1987 And the Band Played On Politics People and the AIDS Epidemic St Martin s Press ISBN 0 312 00994 1 Shilts Randy 1993 Conduct Unbecoming Gays amp Lesbians in the U S Military St Martin s Press paperback edition Shrum Robert 2007 No Excuses Concessions of a Serial Campaigner Simon and Schuster ISBN 0 7432 9651 6 Marks Ridinger Robert B 2004 Speaking for Our Lives Historic Speeches and Rhetoric for Gay and Lesbian Rights 1892 2000 Haworth Press ISBN 1 56023 175 0 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Foster activist amp oldid 1132034868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
