The secret society that used a medieval mask to fight for gay rights

Health · Published 19 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1950s Los Angeles, a group of activists operated under total anonymity. Inspired by masked medieval performers who spoke truth to power, the Mattachine Society used clandestine structures to build the foundations of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement.

Founded in Los Angeles in 1950, the Mattachine Society—originally known as the Mattachine Foundation—was established by Communist organizer Harry Hay alongside a group of leftists, including Bob Hull, Chuck Rowland, and Rudi Gernreich. Drawing organizational structure from the Communist Party, the group operated with a high degree of secrecy. Its leadership, known as the 'fifth order,' remained anonymous, meaning even regular members did not know the names of those in charge.

The name 'Mattachine' was suggested by James Gruber and inspired by the 'Société Mattachine,' a French medieval and Renaissance masque group. These secret societies consisted of unmarried townsmen who performed masked rituals during the Feast of Fools. Hay saw a parallel between these historical figures and 1950s gay men, viewing both as 'masked' people who used anonymity to organize against oppression. The name itself traces back to the 'mattachin,' Moorish sword-dancers who wore elaborate masks.

As a pillar of the Homophile Movement, the Society expanded its reach, eventually moving its headquarters from Los Angeles to San Francisco around 1957. While the organization published 'The Mattachine Review' starting in 1955, it faced significant scrutiny; the FBI conducted an internal security investigation into the group between 1953 and 1956. By 1957, the Board of Directors voted 5-2 to revoke local chapter charters, encouraging branches to work autonomously. This decentralization allowed the San Francisco chapter to persist until 1967.

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