When Richard “Ric” Weiland (1953-2006) drove to work in 1976, it had been seven years since Stonewall, six since the first Pride marches, and a year since the repeal of New Mexico’s anti-sodomy laws. His destination was a new company founded by his high school friends—Microsoft. As he navigated the streets of Albuquerque, NM, his license plate proudly proclaimed to everyone he passed: YES I AM.
The Richard William Weiland papers, 1969-2006, housed in Stanford’s University Archives, offer a rich and honest portrayal of a gay man working in the technology sector.
While considered introverted in life, Ric Weiland’s personality jumps off the pages he penned—his perspectives on computer software, his meticulous philanthropy planning, his search for a queer community, and the inner turmoil he wrestled with through it all until his untimely death by suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, there are resources available. For immediate help, call or text 988 to connect to the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
