High Tech Gays Records
Content Description
The High Tech Gays Records collection consists primarily of monthly newsletters but also includes correspondence, flyers, photographs and other materials that document the activities of High Tech Gays, an organization for gay high technology workers in Silicon Valley in California.
The newsletters relate information about the group's social events, political activities and monthly meetings that included a potluck supper and featured a guest speaker. Many of the speakers were related to local politics, such as the the San Jose Mayoral candidates (Frank Fiscalini, Susan Hammer, Shirley Lewis) or the gay rights movement such as National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NFLTF) President Jeff Levi.
The correspondence in particular provide insight into the political activites the organization was involved with, especially their efforts to educate employers and prevent discrimination against gay people.
Photographs are mainly snapshots from monthly meetings, camping trips and parades.
Dates
- Creation: 1983-2001
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1983-1993
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright has not been assigned to the San Jose State University Library Special Collections & Archives. All requests for permission to publish or quote manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of San Jose State University Special Collections & Archives. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Special Collections & Archives as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader. Copyright restrictions also apply to digital representations of the original materials. Use of digital files from or derived from these collections is restricted to research and educational purposes.
Organizational History
High Tech Gays was a social and political organization for gay high tech workers in California's Silicon Valley from 1983 to 1997. It organized social events and held monthly meetings in San Jose, California. Its events included parties, camping trips, and hosted guest lectures.
High Tech Gays was politically active in support of the gay rights movement in the 1980s and 1990s. The group participated in yearly Pride events in San Francisco and San Jose, as well as the national March on Washington in 1987 and 1993. High Tech Gays was especially involved in working to prevent employer discrimination against gay people. It petitioned high tech companies to change their non-discrimination policies to include gay people as a protected class. It supported members' rights to be treated equally when applying for security clearances and sued the Defense Investigative Security Office in 1984. The 1987 ruling supported the right of gays not to be discriminated against when applying for security clearances, but was overturned by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 1990.
Information gathered from Carrol, Denny. "High Tech Gays (HTG)." http://hightechgays.com/ (accessed October 19, 2018).
Extent
1 Box (1.2 linear feet)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The High Tech Gays Records document the activities of High Tech Gays, an organization for gay high technology workers in Silicon Valley in California. It consists of primarily monthly newsletters, some correspondence, buttons, audio cassette, and photographs.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged alphabetically by folder title.
Processing Information
Collection processed by Monica Keane 10/19/2018.
- Title
- Guide to the High Tech Gays Records
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Monica Keane
- Date
- Fall 2018
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the SJSU Special Collections & Archives Repository
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library
San José State University
One Washington Square
San José, CA 95192-0028
(408) 808-2062
(408) 808-2063 (Fax)
special.collections@sjsu.edu