STREET TRADE

John Rechy was born in El Paso Texas to Mexican parents. On his father’s side he had Scottish ancestors. With his lighter complexion and Anglo surname he could “pass” for white. This helped him enroll in a high school for Whites only. There his excelled in writing and sports.

After attended college and a stint in the army, Rechy began traveling around the United States, earning money by being a gay hustler. While in Los Angeles he was arrested at Cooper Do-nuts, a gay hangout. The police often harassed gays, lesbians and drag queens. A minor riot broke out as the gay patrons pelted the police with do-nuts and cups of coffee. Rechy was able to escape.

All these experiences became the basis of his autobiographical first novel “City of Night” (1963). Although it received negative reviews due to its sexually explicit content, it became a best seller.

Other novels followed. “Numbers” focused gay man trying to recapture his youth by having sex with 100 men. That’s when I discovered Rechy, the novel’s cover featured the profile of a naked young man. I secretly purchased the book (or did I shoplift it, I can’t remember) and learned about the wider gay world. I read “City of Night” later.

In all Rechy has written 14 novels about gay or Chicano life and struggles. Plus numerous essays for a variety of literary publications such as The Nation, New York Review of Books, Los Angeles Times, L.A. Weekly, The Village Voice, The New York Times, and Evergreen Review. Rechy also became faculty member at the Master of Professional Writing Program at the University of Southern California.

“Lending a hand” 2021