“Why are you admiring me when you could look in the mirror and see the same thing, the same passion, the same revolutionary?”
- Name: Patrick Haggerty
- Born: September 27, 1944
- From: Port Angeles, Washington
- Pronouns: He/Him
- Contribution/Impact: Paved the trail for LGBTQ+ artists in the country scene with his country band, Lavender Country.
- Occupation: Musician, Activist
- Interesting Facts: In high school, Haggerty was voted Head Cheerleader and was the president of his senior class.
Patrick Haggerty grew up on a farm where his parents and community loved him unconditionally, particularly his father. Later on in life, he was part of the Peace Corps, but was kicked out for being gay. After this, he came out publicly as gay and began the country band, Lavender Country. They released an album of the same name with the help of the LGBTQ+ community in Seattle. At the time, the band did not do well and Haggerty was not accepted by the music industry, but the movement gained speed, and today he is an activist who is recognized for releasing the first gay country album.
Handout
To download the Handout:
- Click on the image
- Right-click and select Save Image As…
- Decorate and personalize the empty space in the image.
- Cut out and use for a selfie to share on our social media page.
- Download a card and envelope template and write about an idea this leader inspires.
- Check out The Attic for more resources and events for Philadelphia’s LGBT+ youth!
This ASI Special event is an ongoing volunteer-led project made by people like you, using multiple educational sources regularly being revised and updated. We would love your assistance if you or your group would like to get involved, learn more here.