Stan Berg (August 31, 1949 – May 14, 1991) was a gay rights activist, business owner, and publisher of Indianapolis-based gay press magazine, The Works.[1][2]
Stan Berg | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 31, 1949 Garrett, Indiana, US |
| Died | May 14, 1991 (aged 41) |
| Alma mater | Indiana University, 1971 |
| Years active | 1977 - 1991 |
| Organization(s) | The Body Works Indianapolis Gay/Lesbian Coalition (IGLC) |
| Notable work | The Works publication (later renamed The New Works) |
Early life and education
editStan Berg moved from Garrett to Indianapolis at the age of 14. He graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration.[1][2] Berg chose to live publicly as a gay man following the support and affirmation of his employer after Berg was arrested at a bathhouse at the age of sixteen.[2]
Career
editBerg, who originally worked in insurance, started The Body Works, a 24-hour club for the Indianapolis LGBT community in 1977.[2][3] In 1988, Berg stated that the club had over 6,000 members.[2]
He also started a news outlet, then named The Works, that began to share local statistics and health information about the HIV epidemic in the 1980s.[1] The newspaper, later named New Works News had a distribution of 5,000 copies. Nevertheless, according to Berg, the paper struggled to find advertisers and lost over $1,000 per month.[2]
Along with Kathy Sarris and others, Berg cofounded the Indianapolis Gay/Lesbian Coalition (IGLC) in 1982.[1] He also worked to promote safe sex by distributing literature and condoms. His work on AIDS education resulted in an endorsement from an Indiana civil rights organization, Justice, Inc.[2]
In 1984, Berg helped to create and lead the Gay Knights on the Circle to protest the Indianapolis Police Department's harassment of gay and lesbian social gatherings Monument Circle and in the city. The protests were attended by hundreds of people weekly in the summer of 1984. The protest contributed to Mayor Hudnut's commitment to preventing ant-gay bias on the police force. In 1990, Mayor Hudnut asked for Berg's help in writing a public statement to announce Indianapolis's first, public celebration of Pride Week.[1]
Death
editBerg died of AIDS in 1991.[4]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Opsahl, Sam (2022-12-15). "Stan Berg". Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Retrieved 2024-07-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g Holladay, Ruth (1988-08-27). "Gay activist proud of who he is: Stan Berg". The Indianapolis Star. p. 37. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ "The Works | Serving Our Community for over 40years". Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- ^ Higgins, Will. "The strange but true history of Indianapolis' gay bars". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved 2024-06-27.
- Queer Circle City Event on Stan Berg
- Indianapolis Star - History of Indianapolis Gay Bars
- 1987 Lawsuit
- Indianapolis Encyclopedia - Gay Knights on the Circle
- Indiana Historical Bureau Blog - Indiana Crossdresser Society
- Indiana Historical Bureau Blog - 2022 Queer History Conference
- Indiana Historical Bureau Blog - Combating Discrimination
- Indiana Historical Bureau Blog - Police Harassment in 1980s
- Indy Star article "A Coming Out"
- Indy Star Stan Berg obituary
- Indy Star article "Stan Berg battled hard to open closed minds"
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