Lightning Brown, a local member of the gay community, is currently running for a seat on the Town Council here in Chapel Hill…
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Celebrating the life of the first openly gay elected official in the former Confederacy, a champion of civil rights and the environment, and the Mayor of Franklin Street in Chapel Hill, N.C. >>JoeHerzenberg.org<<
Campaign flyer from Joe’s first Chapel Hill Town Council race, 1979
About Joe
- Friends of Joe
- Chapel Hill, N.C., United States
- Joe Herzenberg was born June 25, 1941, to Morris & Marjorie Herzenberg. His father owned the town pharmacy in Franklin, N.J., where Joe grew up. After he graduated from Yale University in 1964, Joe went to Mississippi to register voters for Freedom Summer. He joined the faculty of historically black Tougaloo College, where he was appointed chair of the history department. Joe arrived in Chapel Hill in 1969 to enroll as a graduate student in history at the University of North Carolina, and, along with his partner Lightning Brown, soon immersed himself in local, state, and national politics. Although Joe’s first campaign for the Chapel Hill Town Council in 1979 was unsuccessful, he was appointed to the Council to fill a vacant seat and served until 1981. In 1987, he was elected to the Council, becoming the former Confederacy's first openly gay elected official. Joe died surrounded by friends on October 28, 2007. He was 66 years old.
Joe was a blogger before the term was invented. Audio on the below clip captures him typing away one night, making the world a better place one word at a time.
Joe Roll - blog posts about Joe
- Orange Politics - We'll Miss You, Joe!
- Austin Miller
- Becky Carpenter - Rest in Peace
- Becky Carpenter - Truly historically significant
- Brad Crittenden
- Chuck Morton
- Dave Hart
- Delores Bailey
- Diana McDuffee
- Doug Ferguson
- Erik Ose - The funeral Joe wanted
- Gerry Cohen - RIP Joe
- Gerry Cohen - Joe H, strategist
- Gerry Cohen - Memorial service 11/15
- Jason Baker
- Jeffery Beam
- Jennifer Strom
- John Dittmer
- Kathie Young
- Kathy Hudson
- Mark Chilton
- Mark Donahue
- Mark Kleinschmidt
- Mark Schultz
- Marlee Margopoulos Margulies
- Matt Stiegler
- Melody Ivins
- Mike Nelson - Twenty Years Later
- Mike Nelson - Goodbye, My Friend
- Mike Nelson - In Honor of Joe
- Mike Nelson - Herzenberg Wins Goodman Leadership Award
- Paul Jones
- Robert (Bobby) Howell
- Ron Hudson
- Roy Timmer
- Ruby Sinreich - Bill of Rights Day 12/15/07
- Ruby Sinreich - Joe Shrine
- Ruth Sheehan
- Sally Greene - Free Men back in print
- Sally Greene - Joe H
- Sally Greene - Peace and protest, justice and injustice: marking Chapel Hill's sacred space (9/18/09)
- Will Raymond - Joe
- Will Raymond - Weave Real Connections
Vote Joe Herzenberg yard sign, 1991, courtesy of Mark Donahue.
Help Remember Joe
If you would like to contribute photos or memories of Joe, share any of his unique postcards, or suggest a link to something for inclusion on this site, please e-mail us: friendsofjoe -at- yahoo.com.
Joe, the Mayor of Franklin Street, 1991
Joe Speaks
- >> Joe Herzenberg tells it like it is... Speech at the Triangle Gay Pride March in Durham, 1986
- >> Joe's Letters to the Editor
- >> Oral history interviews with Joe
- >> Video footage of Joe - speaking before the Chapel Hill Town Council, 2007
- >> Video footage of Joe - speaking about Chapel Hill's civil rights heroes, 2006
- >> A Gay Person In Public Life - essay for Out and Elected in the USA, 2001
- >> "Gay-Baiting in Southern Politics," by Joe Herzenberg - Southern Exposure, Sept/Oct 1985
Joe outside Crook's Corner in Chapel Hill, 1990
Joe & Kathie Young, victory hug on election night, 1987
Archive Index
- ’81 killing spurred Durham gay rally - one of N.C.’s 1st (1)
- 3 reasons for Franck (1)
- 911 tapes tell what witnesses saw (1)
- A bow to integration (1)
- A Fixture Resigns From Council: Colorful quirky tenure ends quietly (1)
- A friendly place for all its residents (1)
- A Gay Person In Public Life - essay by Joe Herzenberg (1)
- A Tar Heel town that Dan Quayle would love to hate (1)
- A tribute to a community treasure - Frances Hargraves (1)
- ACLU seeks nominations for Jones Award (1)
- ACLU seeks nominees for top award (1)
- Activists say town squelched free speech at festival and market (1)
- AIDS House Planned Again (1)
- AIDS support group hopes second try to buy house succeeds (1)
- An anniversary for gay rights in Chapel Hill (1)
- Anatomy of An Election by Mab Segrest - Southern Exposure Sept/Oct 1985 (1)
- Are you a cat person or a dog person? (1)
- Attempt to save West House is only getting started (1)
- Award honors 4 for human relations work (1)
- Be proud (1)
- Bill of Rights Day 2008 press release (1)
- Bill of Rights reading honors 'mayor of Franklin Street' (1)
- Birth of gay rights movement observed: 13th annual Stonewall Supper (1)
- Blacks added to plaza names: Marker naming rights leaders will be installed in the fall (1)
- Brilliant Flight - a love poem for Mama Nayo and Joe (VIDEO) (1)
- Brown community activist until death came Monday (1)
- Campaign contribution thank-you note from 1987 - Herzenberg for Town Council (1)
- Campaign fundraiser reception invitation - Herzenberg for Town Council 1987 (1)
- Carrboro first stop in nationwide tour for Out and Elected in the U.S.A. (1)
- Carrboro may free speech at market (1)
- Celebrate Our Peace and Justice Legacy (1)
- Chapel Hill adopts strict gun ordinance (1)
- Chapel Hill and Homophobia: What Joe Herzenberg Means for North Carolina (1)
- Chapel Hill Considers Public Smoking Limits (1)
- Chapel Hill may expand rights of gays (1)
- Chapel Hill may name trail for Herzenberg (1)
- Chapel Hill official renews bid to limit guns (1)
- Chapel Hill political leader and mentor dies at age 66 (1)
- Chapel Hill rejects war sanctuary plan (1)
- Chapel Hill schools seek to protect gays (1)
- Chapel Hill's First Openly-Gay Mayor Reflects On His Home (1)
- Citizen Awards 1984 - Lightning Brown and Joe Herzenberg: Personal Dignity (1)
- Comebacks by Lee and Price hearten towns (1)
- Council members fail to save political necks (1)
- Council seeking names for plaza (1)
- Cousin Alice - Joe's entry in 2006 Chapel Hill Community Art Project (1)
- Death of a Political Hero – Joe Herzenberg (1)
- Dedication of Tribute Marker (1)
- Despite victory Lee feels betrayed by voters (1)
- Detailed plan for Chapel Hill museum ready (1)
- Ex-council member who resigned under a cloud up for town board (1)
- Ex-Town Council member dies at 66: Joe Herzenberg served Chapel Hill from 1987 to 1993 (1)
- Exemplary Regional Leadership by an Elected Official 2007 Recipient: Joe Herzenberg (1)
- Fireworks on hiatus this year (1)
- First names proposed for post office plaza (1)
- Focus on Gay Politics - N.C. mayor finds acceptance (1)
- Founding Mound Bayou: letter to New York Times Sunday Magazine - 1969 (1)
- Franklin St. 'Pure' post a sign of times gone by (1)
- Franklin Street's unofficial mayor remembered (1)
- Freshmen current events quiz from Tougaloo College - 1968 (1)
- Friends Remember Joe (1)
- Fright night on Franklin Street (1)
- Full races to spur Chapel Hill changes (1)
- Gay activist Mike Nelson runs for office (1)
- Gay Awareness Week 1984: Gay Visions of a New World (1)
- Gay community pleased with win in Carrboro (1)
- Gay Democratic Club? - 1982 (1)
- Gay issue emerges (1)
- Gay Leaders Meet in N.C. - Map Movement's Strategy (1)
- Gay officials to take stock of political gains (1)
- Gay Pride allies pin their hopes on Obama (1)
- Gay Republican addresses state conference despite rumblings - 1984 (1)
- Gay Rights: Where Are We Now? (1)
- Gay-Baiting in Southern Politics by Joe Herzenberg - Southern Exposure Sept/Oct 1985 (1)
- Gay-Rights Activists Plan Legislative Push (1)
- Gays and lesbians ask to reword partners plan: Proposal due before council (1)
- Gays and lesbians unite politically in Orange (1)
- Gays believe film overdue (1)
- Gays facing a changed atmosphere (1)
- Gays in the Government? (1)
- Gays see the glass half full (1)
- Giving His Voice: The Mayor of Chapel Hill (1)
- Grannies rage for Bill of Rights (1)
- Group to seek gay candidates - Fund-raiser and meeting set (1)
- Gun control drive resumes (1)
- Gunman kills 2 at UNC (1)
- Gunshot kills bookshop owner: Chapel Hill police hunt for clues and motive (1)
- Helms and Herzenberg: When The Old South Met New (1)
- Helms created our ‘Stonewall’: N.C. Senate Vote 90 was a defining moment for queer N.C. (1)
- Herzenberg inspires others: First openly gay official led way (1)
- Herzenberg Wins Seat by Sean Rowe - 1987 (1)
- Herzenberg won't try to regain seat - Ex-councilman says he'll pay back taxes (1)
- History is not always rosy (1)
- Homosexuals Plan Rally: Leaders Calling for Anti-Bias Laws (1)
- Howard Lee hears new sound: voters grumbling (1)
- I cannot imagine how anyone thought John Kerry would be more electable than John Edwards (1)
- Important Home: Smith Level house should be preserved (1)
- Inside the halls of power: Gays and lesbians have served the Carolinas well (1)
- It's the day - not the speech (1)
- Jacobs has all the tools for commissioner (1)
- Joe and Bob Herzenberg at the Ava Gardner Museum - portrait by Kathie Young (1)
- Joe and Kathie Young on Halloween (1)
- Joe and Kathie Young share a victory hug on election night - 1987 (1)
- Joe as an openly gay Mondale delegate to the 1984 Democratic National Convention in San Francisco (1)
- Joe at Gerry and Pamela Cohen's wedding (1)
- Joe Herzenberg - former council member dies at 66 (1)
- Joe Herzenberg -1941-2007 (1)
- Joe Herzenberg dies (1)
- Joe Herzenberg tells it like it is... (1)
- Joe Herzenberg's Yahrzeit (1)
- Joe on morning of 1990 NC Pride Parade (1)
- Joe re-elected as top vote-getter in Town Council race - 1991 (1)
- Joe speaking at March on Washington for Lesbian Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation - 1993 (1)
- Joe votes on first ever gay rights plank at a national political party convention - Miami 1972 (1)
- Joe was always a true friend of the IFC (1)
- Joe_Letters_to_the_Editor (15)
- Joe's 57th Birthday Dinner - 1998 (1)
- Joe’s first campaign for public office - 1979 (1)
- Joe's passion for life (1)
- Kathie Young and Joe - New Year’s Eve 1978 (1)
- Leaders look to honor corner: Cite post office's historic presence (1)
- Lecturer to argue against gay rights (1)
- Lesbian and Gay Pride ‘86 (1)
- Letter from Joe: Thought you would be interested in this - 1990 (1)
- Letter from Joe: Where have you been? - 1991 (1)
- Letter to James Meredith (1)
- Life in the South: The Landmark has recently taken on the subject of homosexuality - March 1984 (1)
- Lightning Brown recalled as fighter on local and gay issues: Chapel Hill activist dies at 48 (1)
- Lightning Strikes Town Council - 1981 (1)
- Lightning's last request: Greenway legacy (1)
- Limits of Dissent brings back trial of Junius Scales (1)
- Listening for a Change: 2000 Interview with Joe Herzenberg (1)
- Listening for a Change: 2001 Interview with Joe’s friend and fellow activist Mark Donahue (1)
- Local leaves personal and political mark (1)
- Local progressive ideas boost gay rights issues (1)
- Lowenstein biography raises a flap (1)
- Mayor-Elect Mark Kleinschmidt Wins in Chapel Hill (1)
- Mayor's race apt to be crowded (1)
- Memorial service (5)
- Missing Joe (1)
- More Voters Head To Polls This Year (1)
- Mrs. Spencer's era (1)
- My friend - Joe Herzenberg (1)
- N.C. governor weighs execution bias case (1)
- N.C. Lesbian and Gay Democrats Organize - 1983 (1)
- N.C.'s first openly gay elected official dies: Joe Herzenberg was 66 (1)
- Name change remains divisive: On first birthday battle lines persist (1)
- Neighbors and community gather for AIDS home's open house (1)
- Neighbors tour group home for people with AIDS (1)
- New path forecast for board: Personnel changes alter Town Council (1)
- No evidence Helms ever made zoo remark (1)
- No one like Joe (1)
- North Carolina (1)
- North Carolina's First Gay Elected Official Dies (1)
- Not gone and not forgotten (1)
- Note from Joe: Saw the preview of Kids - 1995 (1)
- Note from Joe: Welcome back (and welcome to East Franklin precinct) - 1991 (1)
- Obituary - Joseph A. Herzenberg (1)
- One act of violence using a gun is too many (1)
- Oral History 1995 Interview with Joe Herzenberg - the most in-depth recorded conversation about his life and times (1)
- Oral history interviews featuring Joe (1)
- Out and Elected: Gay people in public office - A Century Center exhibit features openly gay politicians (1)
- Panel prepares for renaming debate: Different stances to shape future of Airport Road (1)
- Peek at town's new year promises (1)
- Pep rally attracts county Democrats (1)
- Photo exhibit documents gay elected officials (1)
- Politician Refuses To Be Invisible - Openly Gay Chapel HIll Council Member Is Unique In N.C. (1)
- Post-Bag: Faulkner (1)
- Postcard from Arkansas starring Hillary (1)
- Postcard invite to founding meeting of the Triangle Alliance - 1987 (1)
- Public Must Accept LGBT Politicians (1)
- Readers know about their pizza (1)
- Remembering Joe (1)
- Remembering King (1)
- Reminiscences of Running Water Farm and RFD Journal (1)
- Republicans gear up to take over: Chapel Hill ponders loss of Lee and Price (1)
- Requiem for an original (1)
- RIP Alice the cat (1)
- Roses to Joe Herzenberg (1)
- Save West House Coalition (1)
- Schools do the right thing on Boy Scouts (1)
- Sean Rowe: New Times Writer/Author/Poet Is Dead (1)
- Senate hopeful Dan Blue draws local support (1)
- Service Thursday for Herzenberg (1)
- Sixth Annual Stonewall Community Supper flyer 1988 (1)
- Smith plantation house may come to life again (1)
- Some want to remember shooting spree - others want to forget: Chapel Hill marks grim anniversary (1)
- Spencer in a different context (1)
- State might not follow locals' lead (1)
- Street of death - Gunman kills 2 and wounds 2 others (1)
- Student - 21 - is likely youngest state winner (1)
- Students seek ban on summertime recall votes (1)
- Thank you Joe Herzenberg (1)
- Thanks to speakers at Lesbian and Gay Awareness Week 1986 (1)
- The Henderson Street shootings (1)
- The last 'white racist politician' (1)
- The season for giving thanks (1)
- The town loses a unique presence (1)
- This is Chapel Hill and That's The Law (1)
- To live in Robeson County NC is like to live in Mississippi 20 years ago (1)
- Tougaloo College (1)
- Town and NAACP to remember historic march (1)
- Town is asked to be haven for deserters (1)
- Town is cautious of plan - Residents review UNC land report (1)
- Town milestone in gay rights (1)
- Town official resigns (1)
- Town still bearish on arms - Chapel Hill unfazed by gun control foes (1)
- Town to unveil tribute marker today (1)
- Town: Zap ‘defense of marriage’ law in N.C. - Chapel Hill council wants repeal of law banning gay unions (1)
- Towns may call on UNC to poll public (1)
- Tradition could wilt with retirement of `flower ladies' (1)
- Trees mistakenly cut near bypass (1)
- Triangle gays say court’s decision overdue: Sodomy laws called symbolic affront to rights (1)
- Triangle Stonewall Democrats Meeting (1)
- UNC removal of magnolia for utilities irks residents (1)
- UNC-CH students want to cut gay group's funds (1)
- UNC-TV's programming is sometimes baffling (1)
- Verdict offers little solace to town still scarred by shootings (1)
- Video footage of Joe Herzenberg in his element - speaking before the Chapel Hill Town Council (1)
- Vigil held to support gay texts - Multicultural lessons in high schools backed (1)
- Vote for Joe Herzenberg ad 1985 (1)
- Voter registration card from Joe’s first Chapel Hill address - 1973 (1)
- Voters seek comfort in company of others (1)
- Walkers have foothold in Chapel Hill (1)
- We were family (1)
- We'll not see his like again (1)
- What is to come is uncertain - May 1993 (1)
- What it's going to take to retire Jesse Helms (1)
- Where would we be without Hinton James? (1)
- Who votes affects public policy (1)
- Wilson would help protect environment (1)
- Worthy of the honor (1)
"Mr. Herzenberg...loved gathering with his friends, listening to Mozart and operas and talking about politics."
- "Franklin Street's unofficial mayor remembered," Chapel Hill Herald, 11/16/07
Joe “jailed” in Jackson, Mississippi, 1965
Photos courtesy of Debbie Herzenberg, Kathie Young, Mark Donahue, and Erik Ose
Visitor Info
- Jonathan Courtland, a friend of Joe Herzenberg, at a memorial service celebrating the former town councilman's life, on Herzenberg's habit of sending postcards from his world travels to his friends.
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