THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

By Andrew Davis

Vern Bullough, a champion of civil rights and a researcher who specialized on subjects involving sex and gender, died of cancer June 21 at his suburban Los Angeles home, according to the Los Angeles Times. He was 77.

After serving in the military, Bullough received his bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago. He taught at various institutions of higher learning, including California State University-Northridge ( CSUN ) ; and the State University of New York at Buffalo, according to PRLeap.com .

Bullough also co-wrote or edited almost 50 books on subjects such as prostitution and transgenderism. With his wife, Bonnie, he wrote American Sexuality: An Encyclopedia ( 1994 ) . His other major books include Sexual Variance in Society and History ( 1976 ) and Homosexuality: A History ( 1979 ) .

Bullough also was a pioneering advocate of civil rights, the Times reported. In the early 1960s, he persuaded the American Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) of Southern California to defend the gay community, making it the first ACLU chapter in the country to do so.

See VernBullough.com .