Robert Rygor Papers

Robert Rygor (1953-1994), was a New Yorker deeply involved with both GLBT and AIDS activist movements from the mid-1970s through the mid-1990s. In addition, Rygor focused on community activism/urban planning, as well as running for political office. In 1994, Robert passed away from his battle with AIDS.

Robert was born on June 17th 1953 to Stanley and Kathleen Rygor and raised in Astoria, Queens, New York. Kathleen left Co Offaly, Ireland and settled in New York where she soon met Stanley who is an English/Italian American. Stanley embraced Kathleen’s Irish heritage and they raised their five children with strong Irish traditions.

Robert graduated from New York University with an MBA in Finance. As a young adult Robert moved to Greenwich Village in Manhattan and remained in this neighborhood for the rest of his life. Rygor became involved in GLBT activism as early as 1974. In 1978 he protested the NYC Saint Patrick’s Day Parade for excluding the GLBT community. That same year, Rygor became the first openly gay man to run for New York State Legislature. He served as supervisor for the 1980 US Census Bureau and worked for NYS Department of Taxation and Finance until his diagnosis with AIDS in 1990.

During the 1980s, Rygor was involved in community activism in New York City including advocating for the restoration and safety of NYC parks such as Washington Square Park (1985-1989). In addition, Rygor was also a member of Villagers Against Crime (VAC) where he spent time creating community awareness by communicating with NYC politicians and police for safer neighborhoods from prostitution and drug dealers/use (1984-1988). Throughout the 80s and early 90s he organized around many issues, including sex education in schools, diversification of the NYC school curriculum, and the passage of the NYU gay rights policy statement.

Once diagnosed with AIDS in 1990, Rygor decided to devote the rest of his life to politics and AIDS activism; he began by running for NYS Assembly for the second time (1990). Although defeated by Deborah Glick, Rygor continued as a political activist. In the early 1990s, he served as Workspace Manager for the pivotal organization ACT UP, whose militant direct action tactics succeeded in focusing the nation’s attention on the AIDS crisis. In 1992, he testified at the Democratic Platform Committee Hearings to advocate inclusion of AIDS awareness and funding into their platform. In December of the same year he travelled to Cameroon to the 7th International Conference on AIDS in Africa.

Even after he was hospitalized, Rygor carried on his activism from his hospital bed. Before his death in 1994, Rygor wrote a letter to ACT UP’s uncensored, internal newsletter RITA describing his dedication to ACT UP and his eagerness to be released from the hospital: “That day I will feel more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound. I will be back with my friends I love and can’t wait to hold you in my arms. P.S. Thanks for keeping me alive. ACT UP. FIGHT BACK. FIGHT AIDS.” Rygor passed away five days later.