Doug Ireland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug Ireland
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| Born | March 31, 1946 |
| Died | October 26, 2013 (aged 67) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Journalist, political activist |
| Movement | Anti-war, LGBT, New Left |
William Douglas Ireland (March 31, 1946 – October 26, 2013) was an American journalist and activist. He wrote about politics, media, and issues important to the LGBT community. He was a correspondent for a French political weekly called Bakchich. He also worked as an editor for Gay City News, a newspaper focusing on LGBT topics.
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Doug Ireland's Early Life and Activism
Doug Ireland was born in Duluth, Minnesota. He later lived in Port Hueneme, California. His father worked for the Navy there.
When he was a child, Doug got polio. This happened because his Christian Scientist parents did not allow him to get the polio vaccine.
From a young age, Doug was involved in activism. He was part of the New Left movement in the 1960s. This group wanted to bring about social and political change. He joined Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) when he was 17. He even worked on the SDS national staff for a year.
Doug left SDS in 1966 to focus on stopping the Vietnam War. He helped organize labor leaders to oppose the war.
Doug Ireland's Political Campaigns
Doug Ireland was an early supporter of the "Dump Johnson" movement. This movement wanted to stop President Lyndon B. Johnson from being re-elected because of the Vietnam War. Doug worked on the presidential campaign for Senator Eugene McCarthy, an anti-war candidate. He helped coordinate McCarthy's efforts in several states.
After the 1968 Democratic National Convention, Doug helped with Allard Lowenstein's successful campaign for Congress. Lowenstein was a key figure in the "Dump Johnson" movement.
In 1970, Doug managed the campaign for Bella Abzug. She was an anti-Vietnam War candidate who won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was one of the first strong left-wing politicians elected to Congress in a long time. He also managed her campaign for U.S. Senator in 1976, which she almost won.
Doug also worked on the campaign for Howard J. Samuels, who ran for governor of New York in 1974.
A Career in Journalism
Doug Ireland had a long career as a journalist. He worked briefly for the New York Post early on. He also worked for the Community News Service, which reported on minority communities.
In 1977, he became a political columnist for the SoHo Weekly News. People said he could have become a very famous journalist, but his strong political beliefs were always most important to him.
He lived in France for ten years. There, he wrote about European politics and culture for various magazines. He often wrote about French and European politics even after returning to the U.S. He also promoted the work of French philosopher Michel Onfray in America.
Doug wrote columns for many well-known publications. These included The Village Voice, The New York Observer, New York magazine, and the French newspaper Libération. He was also an editor for POZ, a magazine for people living with HIV. He contributed to In These Times and the French news website Bakchich. In the late 1990s, he wrote for The Nation magazine.
From 2005, Doug was the International Affairs editor for Gay City News. This is a large LGBT newspaper in New York City and the U.S.
Fighting for Change
Doug Ireland was a strong voice for change. He often criticized President Bill Clinton's policies from a left-wing point of view. He wrote a column called "Clinton Watch" for three years.
He was also very vocal against wars. He opposed President George H. W. Bush's Gulf War. He also spoke out against President George W. Bush's Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.
Doug was involved in early LGBT rights groups. He was a member of the Gay Activists Alliance (GAA) and the Gay Liberation Front (GLF). These groups worked to gain equal rights and acceptance for gay people.
Later Life
In his later years, Doug Ireland faced many health challenges. He had diabetes, kidney disease, and severe nerve pain called sciatica. He also had weakened lungs and muscle problems related to his childhood polio. He survived at least two major strokes. Because of his health, he often felt too ill to leave his home.
Doug Ireland passed away in his home in the East Village, New York City, on October 26, 2013. His partner, Hervé Couergou, passed away in 1996.
