Alan Selby (1929–2004), born Alan Henry Sniders,
was an English-born American
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
businessman and leader in the
San Francisco
San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is a commercial, Financial District, San Francisco, financial, and Culture of San Francisco, cultural center of Northern California. With a population of 827,526 residents as of ...
leather community.
He was known by many as "the Mayor of
Folsom Street
Folsom Street is a street in San Francisco which begins perpendicular to Alemany Boulevard in San Francisco's Bernal Heights district and ends perpendicular to the Embarcadero on the San Francisco Bay. For its southern half, Folsom Street runs ...
".
He claimed to have created the first
hanky code
The handkerchief code (also known as the hanky/hankie code, the bandana/bandanna code, and flagging) is a system of color-coded cloth handkerchief or bandanas for non-verbally communicating one's interests in sexual activities and fetishes. The ...
with his business partners at Leather 'n' Things in 1972, when their bandana supplier inadvertently doubled their order and the expanded code would help them sell the extra colors they had received.
However, other sources dispute this being the origin of the hanky code.
Biography
Alan Selby was born as Alan Henry Sniders in Yorkshire, England.
He was a member of the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
.
In 1979, Selby and his partner Peter Jacklin moved to San Francisco and founded the
fetish clothing manufacturer Mr. S Leather.
At one point, the company was operated by
Judy Tallwing McCarthey.
Selby co-founded and fundraised for the
San Francisco AIDS Emergency Fund, which was founded in 1982.
Following the death of his partner, Peter Jacklin, from
AIDS
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
in 1987, Selby became a prominent figure in the community response against the AIDS epidemic.
Selby died from complications of
emphysema
Emphysema is any air-filled enlargement in the body's tissues. Most commonly emphysema refers to the permanent enlargement of air spaces (alveoli) in the lungs, and is also known as pulmonary emphysema.
Emphysema is a lower respiratory tract di ...
at the age of 75 in May 2004 in San Francisco.
[ In 2019, an exhibition at the GLBT Historical Society Museum celebrated Selby's life and legacy.
]
Awards and legacy
* In 1988, Selby was awarded the Steve Maidhof Award for National or International Work by the National Leather Association International.San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley
The San Francisco South of Market Leather History Alley consists of four works of art that honor the history of gay and lesbian leather culture in South of Market, San Francisco. The art is embedded in Ringold Street, an alley between 8th and 9t ...
.
References
1929 births
2004 deaths
Leather subculture
American LGBTQ businesspeople
American HIV/AIDS activists
20th-century American LGBTQ people
21st-century American LGBTQ people
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