A single-page letter dated August 28, 1962 from The Mattachine Society of Washington to former House Representative Paul C. Jones. The letter accompanies an enclosed news release (not shown) about the newly formed organization advocating for homosexual rights, signed by Franklin E. Kameny, President of The Mattachine Society of Washington. Handwritten comment in red ink by Jones reads, "I am unalterably opposed to your proposal and cannot see how any person in his right mind can condone the practices which you would justify. Please do not contaminate my mail with such filthy trash."
Handwritten letter on lined yellow paper, stapled: "My name is Jesus Reyes and I've just been arrested by the INS. Now they want to deport me because I have AIDS. I came to this rally today because as a gay man and as a person with AIDS I wanted to support this struggle against death, this struggle for life. I didn't expect to find the immigration police here, but here they were. Now they're certain to send me back to Mexico where all that waits for me is an early death. Since I've come to this country in 1981 I worked very hard. For the first couple of years I worked two jobs where I still live, in the Mission. I've always tryed to send back as much money as I could to my family in Mexico, things are so bad there they're almost [...]"
Attribution:
Courtesy of the GLBT Historical Society Jorge CortiƱas Papers