John Paul Hudson was an American gay activist, writer, and actor. He was one of the organizers of the first gay pride march in New York City and is recognized as one of the first gay activists and preservers of American gay history. He was also known by the pseudonymJohn Francis Hunter, a name under which Hudson wrote the first gay travel guides in the United States.
Early life
John Henry Hudson was born on March 21, 1929. As a young man, he chose to change his name to John Paul Hudson. His close family and friends called him "Jack".
Career
Writing
As a journalist, Hudson was a longtime employee of Time Inc. and WarnerMedia. Hudson also freelanced, contributing to The Advocate, Gay, Gay News, Gaysweek, David, NewsWest, Flash, and Vector. For his early literary works, he wrote under the pseudonym John Francis Hunter. Those early works were self-published and chronicled a largely promiscuous gay lifestyle of the early 1970s, providing travel guides to the New York and American gay scene. In spite of this apparent celebration of promiscuity, John Paul advocated total celibacy as being the responsible behavior required by the times during the AIDS crisis of the following decade. These books are credited as being the first gay travel guides in the United States. He co-wrote the novel SUPERSTAR MURDER: A Prose Flick. with Warren Wexler in 1976. This novel/screenplay was a murder-mystery romp based on the premise of a Bette Midler-styled drag queen being murdered at a bathhouse modeled after the Continental Baths in New York. The role of protagonist "Guido" was purportedly written to be played by David Cassidy. Hudson was also a lyricist. He wrote "Love Is", based on the 13th chapter of St. Paul's "First Letter to the Corinthians".
Acting
As an actor, producer, and director, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, and was active in off-Broadway theater, television and film. In 1972, Hudson played “Smiley” in Robert Downey, Sr.'s comedy-western movie Greaser's Palace. Hudson appeared on New York'sEmerald City gay television talk show on July 1, 1978 along with Grace Jones.
Activism
In the wake of the 1969 Stonewall riots, Hudson was one of the principal organizers of the Christopher Street Liberation Day committee, which organized New York City's first gay pride march. held in 1970 to commemorate the first anniversary of the riots. Hudson served as the march's first Grand Marshal. A few months later, on April 28, 1970, Hudson declared himself "awakening as a born-again radical." He celebrated his birthday annually on this day, in celebration of his activism. John Paul Hudson was the library and archivist for the New York Chapter of the Mattachine Society. He was also a member of the Gay Activists Alliance and vice president of the National Coalition of Gay Activists. He later served as a co-Master-of-Ceremonies of the Pride Rally in Central Park in 1976, along with activist Karla Jay.
