James Lynn Kepner, Jr. (1923 – 15 November 1997) was an American journalist, author, historian, archivist and leader in the gay rights movement.
[1][5] Kepner's search for information and then community and culture led him to begin a private collection of gay-related materials unlike anything previously compiled.
Upon settling in Los Angeles in the early 1950s, Kepner became an essential part of the emergence of modern gay culture through journalism, writing, activism and pioneering archival work.
As he wrote, he collected, and over five more decades, Kepner was able to amass enormous amounts of essential information on gay life in the United States.
Two—Harry Hay and Dorr Legg—have long been recognized, whereas the contribution of the third—Jim Kepner—has never been adequately documented…" Percy goes on to say "Kepner's articles (in the book) record not only the past of the gay rights movement but also its soul.