In 1973, Ray Broshears, a gay preacher in San Francisco, initiated a street vigilante group aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ individuals in the Tenderloin neighborhood. Broshears candidly expressed his objective to intimidate the perpetrators of violence against LGBTQ+ people. His controversial approach and personality have sparked lasting debate.
The Lavender Panthers, the group founded by Broshears, exemplified how the queer community addressed the lack of care and safety in a society marred by homophobia. This initiative paved the way for mutual aid movements that emerged over the subsequent decades.
Despite its significance, the Lavender Panthers remain relatively obscure in the annals of queer history. A 2018 Newsweek article titled “The Most Dangerous Gay Man in America Fought Violence With Violence,” documented Broshears and the Lavender Panthers comprehensively, highlighting their absence from platforms like Wikipedia as of that time, though pages have now been created.
Reverend Broshears actively pursued publicity. He contributed articles to local papers and orchestrated sensational stunts, such as simulating a crucifixion outside a business accused of discrimination against gays. While these tactics alienated him from mainstream gay rights advocates, they ensured the Lavender Panthers’ story persisted in historical archives.
In contrast, other queer defense groups, especially those focused on specific identities such as lesbians, trans individuals, and people of color, operated in secrecy to avoid perilous attention, leading to many being forgotten over time.
Sourcing deeper information about the Lavender Panthers is possible through Sonja Anderson’s “The Controversial Gay Priest Who Brought Vigilante Justice to San Francisco’s Streets” in Smithsonian Magazine and Eric Markowitz’s “The Most Dangerous Gay Man in America Fought Violence With Violence” in Newsweek, both of which were extensively referenced for this report.
Abi Inman, a comic artist and animator, is a member of the Visuals team at NPR. Her works can be explored further on her Instagram @abiinman, or at abiinman.com.
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