For Immediate Release
January 17 , 2006

Contact: Don Romesburg, 415.850.8580,

De Cecco: A Lifetime of Sexuality Research
Opening Reception for the John De Cecco Papers at the GLBTHS

SAN FRANCISCO—On Thursday, February 9, the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Historical Society will hold a special reception premiering the extensive papers of esteemed psychologist and scholar Dr. John Paul De Cecco. The De Cecco Papers represent one of the GLBT Historical Society's largest and richest manuscript collections, containing John’s personal papers as well as research materials produced by John and research partners including Sal Licata, Monika Kehoe, and Patrick Califia.  The collection features hundreds of interviews, photos, video and audio tapes, and questionnaires on the topic of sexuality from decades of research. The most significant elements include data on discrimination against homosexuals in institutional settings, the relationship between aging and sexuality, male-male sexual assault in prisons, homosexual couples, and lesbians who were born prior to 1920.

Since 1960, De Cecco has been a psychologist at San Francisco State University.  As a result of gay liberation in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he turned his attention turned to the social science of sexuality.  In 1975 he founded and served as director of the Center for Homosexual Education, Evaluation and Research (CHEER) at San Francisco State University. Under the auspices of CHEER, De Cecco spearheaded a number of large research projects focusing on sexuality. In 1977 he assumed the editorship of the Journal of Homosexuality, and he continues to the edit the groundbreaking journal today.  In 1981, De Cecco was among the interdisciplinary group of SFSU faculty who founded the Program in Human Sexual Studies, and he served as director of the Program from 1978 to 1980, and again from 1985 to1996. He also has been a prolific author, writing or editing 14 books and 46 articles between 1957 and 2001.  Since the 1970s, De Cecco earned his position as one of the senior scholars of sexuality in the United States. He has received numerous awards and distinctions including the Magnus Hirschfeld Medal for Outstanding Contributions to Sex Research, the Certificate of Recognition for Outstanding Contributions to Teaching at SFSU, and a lifetime achievement award from the GLBT Historical Society. May 21, 1997 was named “John Paul De Cecco Day” by San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown and the Board of Supervisors.

WHAT: “Looking Back with Discipline and Desire,” a panel discussion and reception about the San Francisco leather communities
WHEN: Thursday, November 17th, 6:00-7:30
WHERE: GLBTHS, 657 Mission St., Ste. 300 (btwn New Montgomery and Third)

A guide to the De Cecco Papers is available on our website at www.glbthistory.org.

The mission of the GLBT Historical Society is to increase public understanding, appreciation, and affirmation of the history and culture of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minority individuals and communities. For more information, call 415.777.5455 or visit www.glbthistory.org.

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