Hay met Rudi Gernreich in July 1950, with the pair soon entering a relationship. Gernreich shared many of Hay's leftist ideas, and was impressed by The Call. He became an enthusiastic financial supporter of the venture, although not lending his name, going instead by the initial "R".Ehrenstein, p. 47D'Emilio, p. 62 Hay, Gernreich, and their friends Dale Jennings, Bob Hull, and Chuck Rowland met on November 11, 1950, in Los Angeles, under the name "Society of Fools".Hogan, et al., pp. 382–3 The group changed its name to "Mattachine Society" in April 1951, chosen by Hay at the suggestion of fellow member James Gruber,Johansson and Percy, p. 92 based on Medieval French secret societies of masked men who (through their anonymity) were empowered to criticize ruling monarchs with impunity.
Hay met Rudi Gernreich in July 1950, with the pair soon entering a relationship. Gernreich shared many of Hay's leftist ideas, and was impressed by The Call. He became an enthusiastic financial supporter of the venture, although not lending his name, going instead by the initial "R".Ehrenstein, p. 47D'Emilio, p. 62 Hay, Gernreich, and their friends Dale Jennings, Bob Hull, and Chuck Rowland met on November 11, 1950 in Los Angeles, under the name "Society of Fools".Hogan, et al., pp. 382–3 The group changed its name to "Mattachine Society" in April 1951, chosen by Hay at the suggestion of fellow member James Gruber,Johansson and Percy, p. 92 based on Medieval French secret societies of masked men who (through their anonymity) were empowered to criticize ruling monarc,hs with impunity.