James Fugaté

James Fugaté (February 13, 1922 – March 28, 1995) was an author and activist in the gay rights movement.^[1] Fugaté wrote several works under the pseudonym James Barr.^[2] He is well known for his two novels, short stories, a play, and writings in three reputable gay publications.^[3]

The Wichita State University Libraries has a special collection about Fugaté, including letters, photographs, and other artifacts.^[4]

Fugaté was born in an oilfield boom town^[1] and is believed to have worked as a roustabout on an oilfield.^[2] He attended college, likely at the University of Oklahoma.^[3] In 1942, he joined the United States Navy.^[5] After World War II ended, he worked in advertising until publishing his first novel, Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel, in 1950.^[1] This caused him to become known as a celebrity in the gay community,^[3] as the book was lauded as a milestone in American gay fiction,^[6] breaking the stereotype of other gay novels typical of the time.^[7] In 1952, Fugaté voluntarily returned to active duty with the Navy, and was stationed in Alaska.^[1] Later that year, his true identity as the author of Quatrefoil was revealed, which led to his being honorably discharged from the Navy.^[3] This experience marked an epiphany for Fugaté, who realized that in defending himself, he was also defending the rights of others in the gay community.^[8]

Fugaté worked as a contributing writer to ONE, Der Kreis, and Mattachine Review, writing about gay experiences and issues.^[1] In ONE, he also commented on organized religion.^[9] He later worked in newspapers in Kansas before moving to New York in the early 70s. He finally returned to Oklahoma, where he worked for ten years in a hospital before dying of liver cancer in 1995.^[3]

Under the pseudonym James Barr:^{[1][2]: 374}

• Quatrefoil: A Modern Novel (1950)
• Derricks (1951)
• Game of Fools (1954)
• The Occasional Man (1966)