ERNESTINE ECKSTEIN (1942-1992):
Ernestine Eckstein was a visionary and leader in the gay rights movement in 1960s. She was an activist, who believed in the power of public protests and bringing attention to the entirety of the “homophile movement” by bringing all classes of homosexuals together.
Born Ernestine Delois Eppenger in Indiana in 1942, she was one of 8 children. She adopted the name Ernestine Eckstein to protect herself from backlash in her job and personal life, as being openly gay was dangerous (and illegal) at the time.
Eckstein attended college at Indiana University and majored in Magazine Journalism with minors in Psychology and Russian. Her activism began on campus, where she was an NAACP chapter officer. She was also a member of Tomahawk, a scholastic honorary society, wrote for the Indiana Daily Student, and was in Singing Hoosiers.
She moved to NYC soon after graduation in 1963. Once there, Eckstein discovered she was a lesbian. She hadn’t realized it earlier because she had never known it was possible until a good friend of hers from college had come out to her as gay, and then had to explain it to her. Suddenly things began to click for her.
Once Eckstein realized that she was a lesbian, she felt compelled to do something and looked to find a way into the “homophile movement,” as it was called at the time.
Eckstein began attending Mattachine Society meetings — an early national gay rights organization in the US — which led her to its sister organization, DOB. Her involvement in the civil rights movement influenced her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ cause.
At the age of 24, Eckstein marched in Philadelphia at the first Annual Reminder Day (one of the earliest LGBT demonstrations in the US) and in front of the White House as the only person of color demonstrating.
At that time, public protest was not on the radar of the gay rights movement due to concerns for safety and being “out” at a time when being gay was considered a crime. As a Black woman participating in gay rights protests in the 1960s, Eckstein’s bravery was paramount.
Eckstein’s appointment as VP of the New York chapter of DOB marked a significant shift in the organization from education with doctors and psychologist to the people through lobbying government officials and demonstrating. Eckstein’s goal was to link gay rights to other civil rights issues to gain momentum and, ultimately, be more successful.
After 3 years in NYC, Eckstein moved to Northern California to focus on social justice issues. She joined Black Women Organized for Action (BWOA), an organization that fostered leadership, community, and action.
Eckstein was one of the most progressive thinkers of her time in the gay and lesbian political movement as well as the Black Feminist movement. She saw demonstrations as one of the very first steps towards changing society.
Much of what is known about Eckstein’s life and beliefs come from an interview she did in The Ladder, a landmark lesbian political publication, in 1966. She was the first Black woman to be featured and only one of two in its duration.
Eckstein’s radical and visionary beliefs were reflected in her work with both DOB and BWOA. Unfortunately little else is known about her life and work post-BWOA.
Eckstein died in 1992 at the age of 51.
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