John Lyon Burnside III (November 2, 1916 – September 14, 2008) was an American inventor and gay rights activist, known for inventing the teleidoscope, darkfield kaleidoscope, and the Symmetricon.

Burnside was living in San Francisco,[2] at the time of his death on September 14, 2008, from complications of brain cancer.

[3] An only child born in Seattle, he was raised by his mother after his father abandoned the family.

Burnside and Hay helped plan the first gay pride parade in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1977.

His ashes, mixed with Hay's, were scattered in Nomenus Faerie Sanctuary in Wolf Creek, Oregon.