Henry+Gerber

Henry Gerber was born in Bavaria on June 29, 1892. He arrived in the United States in October in 1913. He moved to Chicago with some of his family members, because of its large German population. He served for the U.S. army for three years, from 1920 to 1923. While in Germany for the army he came into contact with the German Homosexual Emacipation Movement. Gerber subscribed to some of the German homophile (homophiles were small local groups/ organizations that supported gay/ lesbian rights) magazines. 1924 he returned home, to Chicago and was hired at a post office. Inspired by the German gay rights movement, Gerber felt the need to start and organization in Chicago advocating gay and lesbian rights. He and a few friends started the small organization known as the Society of Human Rights, this was a small, non-profit organization. The Society of Human Rights published a news letter, called //Friendship and Freedom//. This was distributed to the organization's small membership. July 1925, The Society of Human Rights ended when, one of the co-founder's wife found out that he was bisexual; she reported him to the police. After the police raid Henry Gerber and a few others were arrested. After three trials the charges on him were dismissed. Gerber lost his life savings deffending himself in court, and he lost his job at the post office. After this Gerber moved to New York City, and inlisted in the U.S. army again; he served for 17 more years. He continued to support gay and lebian rights; but did not get to involed for fear of losing his job again. On December 31, 1972 Henry Gerber died in the soilder's home, in Washinton D.C. He lived to be 80 years old, and to see the stonewall riots, and the start of the new gay rights movement. back to Gay Rights