John Burnside (inventor)
Encyclopedia
John Lyon Burnside III was the inventor of the teleidoscope
, the darkfield kaleidoscope and the Symmetricon, and, because he rediscovered the math behind kaleidoscope optics, for decades, every maker of optically correct kaleidoscopes sold in the US paid him royalties. He was the partner of Harry Hay
for 40 years, from 1962 until Hay's death in 2002. He lived in San Francisco, California
, until his death from complications of brain cancer on September 14, 2008.
He served briefly in the Navy
, and settled in Los Angeles
in the 1940s.
, a protest against exclusion of homosexuals from the military
, held in Los Angeles. In 1967, they appeared as a gay couple on the Joe Pyne
television show.
In the late 1970s, they founded, along with Don Kilhefner and Mitch Walker
, the Radical Faeries
.
in 1962 at ONE Incorporated
; the two fell in love and became life partners. Burnside died Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the age of 91. http://www.queerty.com/john-burnside-gay-activist-inventor-dies-at-91-20080918/
Teleidoscope
A teleidoscope is a kind of kaleidoscope, with a lens and an open view, so it can be used to form kaleidoscopic patterns from objects outside the instrument, rather than from items installed as part of it...
, the darkfield kaleidoscope and the Symmetricon, and, because he rediscovered the math behind kaleidoscope optics, for decades, every maker of optically correct kaleidoscopes sold in the US paid him royalties. He was the partner of Harry Hay
Harry Hay
Henry "Harry" Hay, Jr. was a labor advocate, teacher and early leader in the American LGBT rights movement. He is known for his roles in helping to found several gay organizations, including the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights group in the United States.Hay was exposed early in...
for 40 years, from 1962 until Hay's death in 2002. He lived in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, until his death from complications of brain cancer on September 14, 2008.
Early life
An only child born in Seattle, he was raised by his mother after his father left the family; being poor, she periodically placed her son in the care of orphanages.He served briefly in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and settled in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in the 1940s.
Gay rights activism
Burnside and his partner Hay formed a group in the early 1960s called the Circle of Loving Companions that promoted gay rights and gay love. In 1966 they were major planners of one of the first gay paradesGay pride parade
Pride parades for the LGBT community are events celebrating lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender culture. The events also at times serve as demonstrations for legal rights such as same-sex marriage...
, a protest against exclusion of homosexuals from the military
Sexual orientation and military service
The military forces of the world have differing approaches to the enlistment of homosexual and bisexual individuals. The armed forces of most developed countries have now removed policies excluding non-heterosexual individuals...
, held in Los Angeles. In 1967, they appeared as a gay couple on the Joe Pyne
Joe Pyne
Joe Pyne was an American radio and television talk show host, who pioneered the confrontational style in which the host advocates a viewpoint and argues with guests and audience members...
television show.
In the late 1970s, they founded, along with Don Kilhefner and Mitch Walker
Mitch Walker
Mitchell Lynn Walker is an American gay activist and Jungian psychologist who has written many influential articles and books on gay-centered psychology.-Biography:Mitch Walker, Ph.D...
, the Radical Faeries
Radical Faeries
The Radical Faeries are a loosely-affiliated, worldwide network and counter-cultural movement seeking to reject hetero-imitation and redefine queer identity through spirituality. The Radical Faerie movement started in the United States among gay men during the 1970s sexual and counterculture...
.
Personal life
Burnside married Edith Sinclair in Los Angeles, the pair had no children. Burnside later met Harry HayHarry Hay
Henry "Harry" Hay, Jr. was a labor advocate, teacher and early leader in the American LGBT rights movement. He is known for his roles in helping to found several gay organizations, including the Mattachine Society, the first sustained gay rights group in the United States.Hay was exposed early in...
in 1962 at ONE Incorporated
ONE, Inc.
ONE, Inc. was an early gay rights organization in the United States.The idea for a publication dedicated to homosexuals emerged from a Mattachine Society discussion meeting held on October 15, 1952....
; the two fell in love and became life partners. Burnside died Sunday, September 14, 2008 at the age of 91. http://www.queerty.com/john-burnside-gay-activist-inventor-dies-at-91-20080918/
Published obituaries
- http://www.latimes.com/news/obituaries/la-me-burnside18-2008sep18,0,699210.storyLos Angeles TimesLos Angeles TimesThe Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
obituary] - http://www.ebar.com/news/article.php?sec=news&article=3326Bay Area ReporterBay Area ReporterThe Bay Area Reporter is a free weekly newspaper serving the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities in the San Francisco Bay Area; it is the oldest-continuously published, and one of the largest LGBT newspapers in the United States....
obituary] - White Crane Blog
- http://www.sfbaytimes.com/?sec=article&article_id=9021San Francisco Bay TimesSan Francisco Bay TimesThe San Francisco Bay Times is a free weekly LGBT newspaper in San Francisco, California that started as COMING Up! in October 1979 as "the gay lesbian newspaper and calendar of events for the Bay Area."...
obituary] - Gay City News obit
- Queensland News obit