James Fugaté
| |
|---|---|
| Born | (1922-02-13)February 13, 1922 Oklahoma or Texas[1] |
| Died | March 28, 1995(1995-03-28) (aged 73) Claremore, Oklahoma |
| Pen name | James Barr |
| Notable works | Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel, Derricks, Game of Fools, The Occasional Man |
James Fugaté (February 13, 1922 – March 28, 1995) was an author and activist in the gay rights movement.[1] Fugaté wrote several works under the pseudonym James Barr.[2] He is well known for his two novels, short stories, a play, and writings in three reputable gay publications.[3]
The Wichita State University Libraries has a special collection about Fugaté, including letters, photographs, and other artifacts.[4]
Fugaté was born in an oilfield boom town[1] and is believed to have worked as a roustabout on an oilfield.[2] He attended college, likely at the University of Oklahoma.[3] In 1942, he joined the United States Navy.[5] After World War II ended, he worked in advertising until publishing his first novel, Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel, in 1950.[1] This caused him to become known as a celebrity in the gay community,[3] as the book was lauded as a milestone in American gay fiction,[6] breaking the stereotype of other gay novels typical of the time.[7] In 1952, Fugaté voluntarily returned to active duty with the Navy, and was stationed in Alaska.[1] Later that year, his true identity as the author of Quatrefoil was revealed, which led to his being honorably discharged from the Navy.[3] This experience marked an epiphany for Fugaté, who realized that in defending himself, he was also defending the rights of others in the gay community.[8]
Fugaté worked as a contributing writer to ONE, Der Kreis, and Mattachine Review, writing about gay experiences and issues.[1]InONE, he also commented on organized religion.[9] He later worked in newspapers in Kansas before moving to New York in the early 70s. He finally returned to Oklahoma, where he worked for ten years in a hospital before dying of liver cancer in 1995.[3]
Under the pseudonym James Barr:[1][2]: 374
Frequent ONE author James Fugaté (who wrote under the pen name James Barr) insisted that 'organized religion' needed to 'stay out of politics, business, and art.'
| International |
|
|---|---|
| National |
|
