From 1941 until 1958, Kight lived in northern New Mexico, where he and many other gay people were active in Adlai Stevenson's campaign in the 1952 presidential election.

He only shared that information with his closest friends, apparently believing that would diminish his credibility as a spokesman for gay rights.

The restaurant, located in West Hollywood, not only had a sign above the bar that said "Fagots [sic] Stay Out", but also printed up matchbook covers with the same saying.

The protest was initially successful - the owner eventually handed Kight the sign in front of news cameras.

But after the media left the owner replaced the sign, where it remained until West Hollywood's first lesbian mayor, Valerie Terrigno, took it down when the city council passed an anti-discrimination ordinance.

Perry vowed at the initial protest to never set foot in the place again until the owner apologized, which finally happened in 2005.

[10] He was subsequently one of the organizers of the 1988 March on Sacramento for Lesbian and Gay Rights, at which Leonard Matlovich gave his last public speech.

This location was selected as it was the stepping off point for Christopher Street West, the very first street-closing gay pride parade in the world.

In September 2001 he made a video documentary with West Hollywood Public Access host James Fuhrman, called "Early Gay and Lesbian History in Los Angeles", which included his recollections of the Barney's Beanery protest and other actions.

[12][13] There is a Chinese magnolia tree and a bronze plaque dedicated to him at the Matthew Shepard Triangle in West Hollywood.