Lee Brewster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lee Greer Brewster
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Brewster in drag
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| Born | April 27, 1943 |
| Died | May 19, 2000 (aged 57) |
| Nationality | American |
| Known for | Drag queen and New York City boutique |
| Movement | LGBT rights |
Lee Greer Brewster (born April 27, 1943 – died May 19, 2000) was an American who was known for being a drag queen and an activist for fairness and equal rights. He also owned a clothing store. He helped start a group called the Queens Liberation Front before the important Stonewall Riots happened. In the 1970s and 1980s, he created and published a magazine called Drag. Lee also helped raise money and organize the very first Pride celebration in the U.S. This event was called Christopher Street Liberation Day in 1970. He continued to help with this event for several years.
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About Lee Brewster
Lee Brewster was born in a log cabin in Honaker, Virginia on April 27, 1943. He grew up mostly in West Virginia. His father worked as a coal miner.
In the 1960s, Lee moved to New York City. He had been unfairly dismissed from his job at the Federal Bureau of Investigation because of who he was.
Brewster passed away from cancer on May 19, 2000, in New York City. His sister and three brothers survived him.
West Virginia University has created an online exhibit to honor his life and work.
Lee's Work and Business
In the early 1960s, Brewster worked as a file clerk for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He was dismissed from this job because of unfair rules at the time.
From the 1970s to the 1980s, he published Drag magazine. This magazine was important for the community it served.
Lee's Mardi Gras Boutique
Brewster owned a clothing store called Lee's Mardi Gras Boutique. It was a large store in Greenwich Village in New York City. The store was especially popular with drag performers.
At first, his business sold items through mail order. But many people started coming directly to his apartment to buy things. So, he decided to open a store nearby. It even had a bookstore with many different books. Later, the store moved to a bigger place on West 14th Street.
His boutique tried to give customers privacy. For example, it never had an entrance directly on the street. However, some famous customers spoke openly about shopping there. These included Lady Bunny and costume designers for movies like The Birdcage and Tootsie.
Activism and Equal Rights
After moving to New York City in the 1960s, Brewster became active in the Mattachine Society. This was an early group working for equal rights. He helped organize their drag balls and events to raise money.
He started holding these balls at the Diplomat Hotel. These events, held from 1969 to 1973, became very well-known. Famous people like Carol Channing and Shirley MacLaine even attended the last one.
In the 1970s, Brewster paid for a successful legal challenge. This challenge fought a New York City rule that allowed people to be removed from public places just for being homosexual. Even though the rule was not often used, he felt it gave police a way to bother LGBT people.
Queens Liberation Front
At his first ball in February 1969, Lee announced his plan to start a new group. This group became known as the Queens Liberation Front. It officially began on October 31, 1969.
In 1971, the Queens Liberation Front worked with the Gay Activists Alliance. They supported a bill called Intro 475. This bill aimed to stop unfair treatment based on sexual orientation in New York City. Their efforts were successful. The early involvement of groups like the Queens Liberation Front helped make sure that transgender rights were included in new laws about gay rights.
