In 1969, Jean Genet, a French writer, came to the United States to interview Huey Newton and other Panther leaders. Genet, who was gay, was significantly wounded by the homophobic terms that were frequently bandied about by the Panthers. After returning to France, Genet sent Newton a message articulating his distress about the group's use of derogatory and repressive language, equating the use of the f-word to the equally reprehensible n-word.

Genet's message profoundly altered Newton's perceptions of homosexuality and masculinity. In 1970, Newton and the Black Panthers began making overtures to form an alliance with the Gay Liberation movement. The Party's newfound philosophy was grounded in the rationalization that revolutionary people "must gain security in ourselves and therefore have respect and feelings for oppressed people." Newton would go on to write that "we have not said much about homosexuals at all, but we must relate to the homosexual movement because it is a real thing...[Homosexuals] might be the most oppressed people in society." As a means of showing respect to homosexuals, inspired by Genet's comments, and of showing commitment to the cause, Newton concluded that "the terms 'faggot' and 'punk' should be deleted from our vocabulary, and especially we should not attach names normally designed for homosexuals to men who are enemies of the people such as Nixon or Mitchell. Homosexuals are not enemies of the people." In his book, Black Power, Jeffrey Ogbar recounts the tale of an openly gay member of the Black Panthers who operated in the Jamaica Queens branch of New York. He was accepted in the Party because "he was truly committed; people knew that." Though committed, some members still used unapproved, offensive language. When confronted by a newer member for his homosexuality "a fistfight broke out between the two. The offending Panther was soundly beaten, and it was the last time that homophobic remarks were made at the office." The defeat of a heterosexual male by a homosexual male effectively ended that thought that homosexuals were unmanly.

The Panthers were the first of any non-gay black organization to support the homosexual cause. The Panthers "connected 9the oppression of homosexuals] to the plight of black people; and attempted--based on that connection--to build coalitions openly with lesbians and gay men." David Hilliard would go on to say that "[the Panthers] were a human rights movement. It had nothing to do with race, as we were trying to move mankind to a higher manifestation, to make this world a better place." As he said he would earlier, Newton had any terms that could be considered derogatory to homosexuals removed from the Panthers' vocabulary, as allies in the struggle all interactions had to remain respectful.

The Black Panthers soon found themselves widely supported in the gay community. At a Panther really at Temple University, participants began chanting "Gay, gay power to the gay, gay people! Power to the People! Black, black power to the black, black people! Gay, gay power to the gay, gay people! Power to the People!" Much like other oppressed people, LGBTQ organizations bean emulating the Panthers; the "newly formed Gay Liberation Front and many feminist groups...all regarded the BPPP as their inspiration and vanguard."

Sources:

Jeffrey Ogbar - Black Power

Huey Newton - Revolutionary Suicide

Huey Newton - To Die For the People

David Hilliard - Hear Our Roar!