James T. Sears

James T. Sears (born August 12, 1951) is an American educator, historian, and activist. He is a former professor at the University of South Carolina, Trinity University, Harvard University, and Penn State. The author of books about LGBT history and sexuality education, his archive of correspondence, research notes, interviews (totaling 138 linear feet in 317 boxes) is located at the Rubenstein Library of Duke University with ancillary materials at the College of Charleston Special Collections.

Early life Sears was born on August 12, 1951, in Tipton, Indiana. He graduated from Southern Illinois University, where he earned a bachelor's degree majoring in history and government in 1974.

Career Sears began his career in higher education at Trinity University, in 1983, and then was appointed assistant professor at The University of South Carolina and was promoted to full professor in 1991. During his 20-year career at USC, Sears pursued twin writing tracks in sexuality education and LGBT studies establishing himself as "one of the preeminent scholars of southern gay culture" In addition to organizing for LGBT rights on and off campus, Sears was the founding editor of two LGBT journals—Empathy (1988–1994) and the Journal of LGBT Youth (2003–present). He was also an early gay activist locally, co-founding the South Carolina Business Guild and giving a major gay rights speech on the steps of the capitol in 1993.

Sears was a visiting a visiting researcher at the University of Southern California, a visiting research fellow at the University of Queensland, a Research Lecturer at Brazil's National Council for Scientific and Technological Development, and a Fulbright Southeast Asian Scholar.

Selected works

Sears, James T. (2024) Queering Rehoboth Beach: Beyond the Boardwalk. Philadelphia: Temple University Press. ISBN 978-1439923801