From: "Alice K. Turner" 
Subject: Fw: (urth) Mattachine Tower
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 22:26:18 -0500

I just did  a google on this--quite fascinating!

-a-

> Back in the 60s, before the Stonewall Rebellion, before gay liberation of
> any note, the Mattachine Society on the East Coast (and for all I know on
> the West) was a coded name for a quite sizeable male homosexual club or
> group here; I expect the historical note is an ironic nod to being
> "closeted." I doubt that Wolfe knew that!
> 
> -alga
> 
> > According to the History Channel, the Mattachines were an Italian
> > tradition of court jesters who were indulged to "speak the truth" when
> > appearing masked and hooded. Not to doubt the veracity of the Hitler
> > Channel, but has anyone else heard of this, or suspect that it folds
> > into the torturers' tower?
> >
> 



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