Hery Gerber House

In 1924, a small, unassuming row house at 1710 North Crilly Court in Chicago became the epicenter of a quiet revolution. This is the Hery Gerber House. It wasn’t a grand mansion or a bustling public space. It was simply Henry Gerber’s home, a place where the seeds of the American gay rights movement were sown. Hery Gerber House, nestled in the Old Town Triangle, played a pivotal role in the life of Henry Gerber, a German immigrant who had witnessed the burgeoning gay rights movement in post-war Germany. He arrived in Chicago, finding a stark contrast to the open activism he had observed in Berlin. The American scene lacked the same level of political awareness and scientific discourse. Gerber, inspired by his experiences, sought to establish a similar movement in the US. Within the walls of Hery Gerber House, he founded the Society for Human Rights in 1924. This became the first documented gay rights organization in America. The Society’s mission was to advocate for the rights of homosexuals, a community facing discrimination and persecution. From Hery Gerber House, Gerber also published “Friendship and Freedom,” the first known gay civil rights publication in the United States. The newsletter, likely produced in the basement, featured articles on self-control, poems by Walt Whitman, and essays about Oscar Wilde. Sadly, only two issues were published and no copies survive today. Hery Gerber House also served as the meeting place for the Society. Its location on a secluded street, bordered by West Saint Paul Avenue and West Eugenie Street, provided a degree of privacy. Despite operating discreetly, the Society’s activities drew the attention of the authorities. In 1925, Hery Gerber House was raided. Gerber and other members were arrested, their writings confiscated. The Society disbanded, but Gerber’s fight continued. The Hery Gerber House stands as a testament to his courage. It represents the very first steps towards equality, a beacon of hope kindled in a simple Chicago row house. The fight began here, in the heart of Old Town, in the Hery Gerber House.