Wayne R. Dynes (born August 23, 1934) is an American art historian, encyclopedist, bibliographer and gay activist. He is Professor Emeritus in the Art Department at Hunter College, where he taught from 1972 to 2008. Dynes spent his early years in Southern California, attending public schools. After extended sojourns in Italy and England, he settled permanently in New York City. He obtained his B.A. at the University of California at Los Angeles in 1956; his Ph.D. at the Institute of Fine Arts of New York University in 1969. During the 1960s Dynes was a member of the Mattachine Society of New York (MSNY). After the Stonewall Uprising (1969), he collaborated with his close friend Jack Stafford, a librarian, on a basic bibliography of gay studies. Ultimately, his dedication to this task yielded his tome Homosexuality: A Research Guide (New York: Garland, 1987). This accomplishment led to Dynes’ service as editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of Homosexuality (New York: Garland, 1990). A major achievement, this two-volume set ranks as the first work of its kind. The Encyclopedia garnered six major awards, including three from library organizations. For a number of years Wayne R. Dynes was active in the Gay Academic Union, editing and publishing its periodical The Cabirion (also known as Gay Books Bulletin). Since 2004 Dynes has conducted his own eclectic blog.