Brian McNaught (born January 28, 1948) is a corporate diversity and sensitivity coach and author who specializes in
LGBTQ
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, Gay men, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning (sexuality and gender), questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, Asexuality, asexual, ...
issues in the workplace.
Early life and education
A
conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of conscience or religion. The term has also been extended to objecting to working for the military–indu ...
to the
war in Vietnam
The Vietnam War (1 November 1955 – 30 April 1975) was an armed conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fought between North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) and their allies. North Vietnam w ...
, 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 a human's contentment attained by satisfying physiological needs and a need in development. The content of contemporary dignity is derived in the new natural law theory as a distinct human good.
As an extension of the Enlightenment- ...
, 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
Michigan ( ) is a peninsular U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, Upper Midwestern United S ...
'', 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 (January 26, 1930 – April 4, 2024) was an American Catholic and a prominent social activist. Gumbleton served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Detroit from 1968 to 2006. According to Gumbleton, the Vatican fo ...
. 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 (March 25, 1940 – December 16, 2024) was an American singer and anti-gay rights activist. She had three top 20 hits in the United States in the early 1960s. She was the 1958 Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant winner, and a brand ...
'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 count ...
, 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, United States. It was established in 1870 with roots in the Methodist Episcopal Church but has been nonsectarian since 1920 ...
, 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 is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...
'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
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 ...
. That task force influenced the screening process instituted by the
American Red Cross
The American National Red Cross is a Nonprofit organization, nonprofit Humanitarianism, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded ...
.
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 five books. Several books focus on advice for LGBTQ individuals and employers on dealing with the challenges faced by the LGBTQ 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
LGBTQ Roman Catholics
Marquette University alumni
21st-century American LGBTQ people