Editing Lou Harrison (section)

===Activism and other endeavors===
Harrison was outspoken about his political views, such as his pacifism (he was an active supporter of the international language [[Esperanto]]), and the fact that he was gay. He was also politically active and informed, including knowledge of gay history. He wrote many pieces with political texts or titles, writing, for instance, ''Homage to Pacifica'' for the opening of the Berkeley Headquarters of the [[Pacifica Radio|Pacifica Foundation]], and accepting commissions from the [[Portland Gay Men's Chorus]] (1988 and 1985) and by the [[Seattle Men's Chorus]] to arrange (1987) his ''Strict Songs'', originally for eight baritones, for "a chorus of 120 male singing enthusiasts. Some of them good; some not so good. But the number is so fabulous".{{sfnp|Miller|Lieberman|1998|p=98}} [[Lawrence Mass]] describes:<blockquote>With Lou Harrison...being gay is something affirmative. He's proud to be a gay composer and interested in talking about what that might mean. He doesn't feel threatened that this means he won't be thought of as an American composer who is also great and timeless and universal.{{sfnp|Miller|Lieberman|1998|p=190}}</blockquote> [[Janice Giteck]] describes Harrison as: <blockquote>unabashedly androgynous in his way of approaching creativity. He has a vital connection to the feminine as well as to the masculine. The female part is apparent in the sense of beingness. But at the same time, Lou is very male, too, ferociously active and assertive, rhythmic, pulsing, and aggressive.{{sfnp|Miller|Lieberman|1998|p=194}}</blockquote>
Like many other 20th-century composers, Harrison found it hard to support himself with his music, and took a number of other jobs to earn a living, including record salesman, florist, animal nurse, and forestry firefighter.