Brian McNaught (born January 28, 1948) is a corporate diversity and sensitivity coach and author who specializes in
LGBT
' is an initialism that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. In use since the 1990s, the initialism, as well as some of its common variants, functions as an umbrella term for sexuality and gender identity.
The LGBT term is a ...
issues in the workplace.
Early life and education
A
conscientious objector
A conscientious objector (often shortened to conchie) is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, or religion. The term has also been extended to object ...
to the
war in Vietnam
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, McNaught did his alternative service at ''The Michigan Catholic'', weekly newspaper of the Archdiocese of Detroit, where he worked as a writer and columnist from 1970 to 1974. In 1974, McNaught founded the Detroit chapter of
Dignity
Dignity is the right of a person to be valued and respected for their own sake, and to be treated ethically. It is of significance in morality, ethics, law and politics as an extension of the Enlightenment-era concepts of inherent, inalienable ...
, the national gay Catholic organization. When he came out in an article on Dignity in ''
The Detroit News
''The Detroit News'' is one of the two major newspapers in the U.S. city of Detroit, Michigan. The paper began in 1873, when it rented space in the rival ''Detroit Free Press'' building. ''The News'' absorbed the '' Detroit Tribune'' on Februa ...
'', the diocesan newspaper dropped his column.
McNaught went on a water fast, which lasted 17 days, ending with a letter of support from Bishop
Thomas Gumbleton
Thomas John Gumbleton (born January 26, 1930) is an American social activist and retired prelate of the Catholic Church. Gumbleton served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1968 to 2006. According to Gumbleton, the Vatic ...
. Following the fast, McNaught was fired by the newspaper, resulting in a civil rights suit, which was settled out of court.
Life and career
From 1974 to 1986, McNaught wrote a syndicated column in the gay press, entitled, "A Disturbed Peace." Following
Anita Bryant
Anita Jane Bryant (born March 25, 1940) is an American singer known for anti-gay activism. She scored four "Top 40" hits in the United States in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including "Paper Roses" which reached No. 5 on the charts. She was th ...
's successful campaign to overturn gay rights protections in
Dade County, Florida
Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Florida. The county had a population of 2,701,767 as of the 2020 census, making it the most populous county in Florida and the seventh-most populous county in ...
, McNaught wrote the essay, "Dear Anita, Late Night Thoughts of an Irish Catholic Homosexual." Initially published by Impact magazine out of
Syracuse University
Syracuse University (informally 'Cuse or SU) is a Private university, private research university in Syracuse, New York. Established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university has been nonsectarian since 1920. Locate ...
, the essay was widely republished, resulting in McNaught appearing on "To the Point," a Miami talk show on which he debated the head of Anita Bryant Ministry's conversion program.
From 1982 to 1984, McNaught served as the Mayor of
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
's Liaison to the Gay Community, the first such full time position in the country. With the permission of Mayor Kevin White, McNaught created the first city task force on
AIDS
Human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a spectrum of conditions caused by infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a retrovirus. Following initial infection an individual m ...
. That task force influenced the screening process instituted by the
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross (ARC), also known as the American National Red Cross, is a non-profit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. It is the desi ...
.
McNaught became a speaker and trainer on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender issues in the workplace, acting as a consultant to companies and discussion moderator.
McNaught has written four books, which offer advice for LGBT individuals and employers on dealing with the challenges faced by the LGBT community. Recommendations from his book ''Gay Issues in the Workplace'' are included in many corporate diversity policies.
In 2011 he won the Selisse Berry Leadership Award.
Bibliography
References
Further reading
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External links
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Guide to the Brian R. McNaught papers, circa 1970-2004(Cornell University)
{{DEFAULTSORT:McNaught, Brian
1948 births
American non-fiction writers
American gay writers
Living people
LGBT Roman Catholics
Marquette University alumni
21st-century American LGBT people