 It chronicles the founding of the Mattachine Society, the first sustained LGBT rights organization in the United States, and the love affair of two of its founding members, Harry Hay (Thomas Jay Ryan) and Rudi Gernreich (Michael Urie).The title is drawn from the early-20th Century usage of the word "temperamental" as slang for "homosexual".After premiering at The Barrow Group Studio Theater in April 2009, the play began previews off-Broadway at New World Stages on February 18, 2010 and premiered February 28.