Older Court Case Shows How California Man Was Persecuted For Being Gay

Here’s something that really should become an official part of gay history. In 1964, when no man would ever mention anything about having sex with another man, and before the word “gay” was even associated with same-sex partners, it was not easy to meet other people. A California school teacher named Donald Odorizzi decided to phone people at random in hopes of finding someone he could relate to. And it turned out to be the worst decision of his life. 

You have to remember this is long before hook up apps and online dating. Gay people did not know where to find other gay people. So, Odorizzi finally found someone through these random telephone calls who was willing to meet him for a hook up. 

The man was a member of the Downey, Calif., police department’s vice squad, and Odorizzi was charged with “oral copulation.” He was grilled about his sex life by three police officers for three hours, and the police reported the arrest to the school where he worked.

Here’s more. The case was discovered by a law student, and this article goes into much more detail. It’s a fascinating read. 

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