Dick Leitsch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dick Leitsch
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Dick Leitsch (right) with Alan Cumming
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Richard Joseph Leitsch
May 11, 1935 Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Died | June 22, 2018 (aged 83) New York City, U.S.
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| Occupation | Activist |
Richard Joseph Leitsch (born May 11, 1935 – died June 22, 2018), also known as Dick Leitsch, was an American activist who worked for equal rights for all people. He was the leader of a group called the Mattachine Society in the 1960s.
Dick Leitsch helped organize a famous protest called the "Sip-In" at Julius' Bar. This was one of the first times people peacefully protested for equal rights in the United States. Activists used "sip-ins" to try and get the legal right to drink in public places in New York. He was also the first reporter to write about the Stonewall riots and the first person to interview the famous singer Bette Midler for a newspaper.
Contents
Who Was Dick Leitsch?
His Early Life and Dreams
Richard Joseph Leitsch was born on May 11, 1935, in Louisville, Kentucky. His father owned a business that sold tobacco. Dick had three younger brothers and sisters. From a young age, Dick dreamed of living in New York City. He was inspired by movies and radio shows that were set there.
He finished high school in 1953. He then went to Bellarmine University, but he did not finish his college degree.
Leading the Mattachine Society
In the 1960s, Dick Leitsch became very involved in the fight for equal rights. He was inspired by a speech about how people could work together for fairness, just like the Civil Rights Movement did.
In 1965, Dick Leitsch agreed to run for a leadership role in the Mattachine Society. This group worked to end unfair treatment and police harassment against people. Their ideas were popular, and they won the election.
Later that year, the person who was supposed to be president stepped down. This meant Dick Leitsch became the president of Mattachine-New York. He worked closely with the new mayor of New York City, John Lindsay, to help improve fairness for everyone in the city.
Dick Leitsch's Work as a Journalist
Reporting on the Stonewall Riots
The Stonewall riots were important events where people stood up for their rights. On June 28, 1969, Dick Leitsch heard about trouble at a bar in Greenwich Village. He went there and saw what was happening.
After the police left the area, he went back to the Mattachine office. He wrote down what he saw, becoming the first reporter to write about the Stonewall riots. His story was first shared with members of the Mattachine group. Later, it was published in a magazine called The Advocate.
Interviewing Bette Midler
Dick Leitsch often wrote for New York City's first newspaper for the community, called Gay. His editor asked him to interview a singer who was not yet famous, named Bette Midler.
The interview was published on October 26, 1970. It was titled "The Whole World's a Bath!". This was the very first interview of Bette Midler ever printed.
Later Life and Retirement
During this time, it was hard for people who were openly advocating for equal rights to keep certain jobs. Because of his public work, Dick Leitsch took many different kinds of jobs to earn a living. He worked as a bartender, a reporter, an author, a painter, and even a holiday decorator.
He retired in 2000. After retiring, he spent a lot of his time volunteering at the Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in Manhattan.
His Personal Life and Passing
Dick Leitsch had a close friend and partner named Timothy Scofield. They were together for 17 years. Timothy passed away in 1989 after an illness.
In April 2018, Dick Leitsch donated his personal papers and many documents from the Mattachine Society to the New York Public Library. He did this after he was diagnosed with a serious illness.
Dick Leitsch passed away from liver cancer in Manhattan on June 22, 2018. He is buried at The Church of St. Luke in the Fields, a church in Greenwich Village.
His Lasting Impact
Dick Leitsch's story is remembered in many ways. For example, an episode of the podcast “Making Gay History” is about his life and work. There is also a special bonus episode of that podcast made in his memory.
