James Credle

James Credle (February 7, 1945 – April 15, 2023) was an American academic administrator, counselor, and Veterans and LGBTQ rights activist. He was assistant dean of student affairs at Rutgers University–Newark and was a founding member of several Veterans and LGBTQ associations. For his actions in the Vietnam War, Credle received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, Gallantry Cross, and an Army Commendation Medal.

Early life Credle was born on February 7, 1945, in Mesic, North Carolina during the time of Jim Crow laws. He was one of 14 children, seven boys and seven girls. As a child, he knew he was gay, but didn't know what gay meant, other than how the church described it, and he was picked on because he was thought of as a "sissie." He moved that year to Newark, New Jersey to work at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lyons with his aunt and uncle. He was a founding member of the National Association for Black Veterans, vice chair of the New Jersey Agent Orange Commission, and the executive director of the National Council of Churches' Veterans in Prisons program. Credle was a founding member and previous co-chair of the National Association of Black and White Men Together, which was created in San Francisco in 1980, and the New York Men of All Colors Together.

Personal life Growing up, Credle was close to his mother, but not with his father. Before his father's death, they reconciled. Although Credle knew he was gay in 1965, he did not tell the United States Army. Credle believed serving in the war was the right thing to do and did not want to disqualify himself. While in the army for two years as a combat medic, he bought a house for his parents. In 1967, he had his first sexual relationship with a man during, R&R in Tokyo, and they had a very close relationship. Credle ended the relationship when it was clear that the man was married to a woman. In 1968, Credle began an 11-year relationship with a fellow Rutgers–Newark student and basketball player. At one point in the 1970s, after leaving a nightclub and having an altercation, someone shot a bullet at Credle's car while he and his partner were driving away. While living in Newark, Credle describes that there were not many gay bars and clubs, other than Murphy's, and that New York was the best place to go for the gay community. He has been in three long-term relationships in his life, and didn't do much dating. During the AIDS crisis in 1982, he was part of medical study that focused on gay men in New York. The study helped him stay HIV negative, as it provided information on safe sex. Having survived the Vietnam war and the AIDS crisis, Credle felt great sadness for the lives that were lost. He expressed frustration and sadness that the government refused to help victims of AIDS. Politically, he found politics troubling, such as problems with gun laws, and thought that politicians were more focused on winning elections than doing the right thing. However, he stated that conditions for queer people improved during Obama's presidency. Credle said that the white gay community is more focused on gay rights than human rights, reflecting racial divides in the movement for queer equality.

On the morning of October 21, 2013, the first day New Jersey allowed same-sex marriage, Credle married Pierre Dufresne. He had previously been married in Amsterdam in 1990. He also had an unofficial wedding in which he and his husband "jumped the broom." His wedding in 2013 was officiated by Cory Booker at Newark City Hall. Credle has experienced posttraumatic stress disorder from his military service, and was not offered treatment from the army, which inspired him to work with veterans later in life. He was later pleased that gays and lesbians can openly serve in the military. He stated that he thinks the "don't ask don't tell" policy was "stupid." In a 2015 he was interviewed by the Queer Newark Oral History Project.Credle believed that while there had been progress for LGBTQ rights, there was more work to be done, and he believed that the white gay community and the black gay community need to come together more. He liked music and dancing, stating that he liked the artist Adele, and his favorite song is "Rolling in the Deep." He also enjoyed cooking and occasionally catered events; he was also a sports fan, and enjoyed the show Scandal. Growing up, Credle was an Elvis fan and listened to Bee-Bop and Motown. Credle was not religious as an adult, but believed that there is a higher being and describes himself as Baptist oriented. He found that religion was overly structured by white supremacy and patriarchy.

Awards and honors For his heroic actions in the Vietnam War, Credle received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star Medal with "V" device, Gallantry Cross, and an Army Commendation Medal.