Gay activism and scholarship from the front lines: Contributions of Eric Rofes - A memoriam

Eric Rofes, gay activist, writer, and scholar, died of a heart attack on June 26, 2006, at the age of 51. Though Eric's career start was an elementary school teacher, he quickly touched a wide swath of gay culture with writings on being a gay elementary school teacher and for the Gay Community News of Boston in the mid-1970s. In the mid-1980s he was director of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, and then later of Shanti in San Francisco. Most recently, he was an associate professor of education at Humboldt State University. Throughout his life he was a prolific writer and speaker, almost always pushing the edge on issues of sexuality. Proud of his sexuality, he was also quite open about his involvement in leather and S&M. Eric is survived by his mother and family members, his partner of 16 years, Crispin Hollings, and by the very many that crossed paths with him over the years.