richard joseph leitsch (may 11, 1935 – june 22, 2018), also known as richard valentine leitsch and more commonly dick leitsch, was an american lgbt rights activist. he was born in louisville, kentucky. he was president of gay rights group the mattachine society in the 1960s. he led many walkouts and sit-ins during protests to support the lgbt community. during the stonewall riots, leitsch was the first gay journalist to report on the riot.