Peter Burton

Peter William Burton (29 April 1945 - 7 November 2011) was an English journalist, publisher, editor and author, considered "the Godfather of gay journalism." Personal life Burton was born 29 April 1945 in Hackney, London. In his first memoir, Parallel Lives, published in 1985, Burton wrote, "From about the age of 13, I had two ambitions: to leave school, and to leave home. Both were accomplished before I was 16 – and essentially, since then, I have been master of my own fate. And things have happened." He was aware he was homosexual in his teens and shortly after began visiting gay pubs in London's West End. Although homosexuality was illegal at the time, Burton said he never worried about whether his sexuality was "'right' or 'wrong' – because it seemed perfectly natural." He continued, noting, "[B]y the time I had become aware of society and the law’s attitudes, it was too late for me to change mine.”