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Harvey Muggy was born in Port Townsend, Washington on February 10, 1944. His mother was of Klallam descent. After graduating from high school in 1962, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the National Defense Service medal. the Navy Unit Commendation medal, and the Vietnam Service medal. He was honorably discharged in 1966 and moved to Seattle shortly after. In 1972, he entered into a partnership in a bar business. He owned and operated a restaurant and lounge from 1979 to 1987 as well as owned apartments and real estate. He was active in politics from the late 1970s until his death on July 25, 1991.

Muggy was the first openly gay person to run for public office in Seattle; he ran for the Washington House of Representatives in 1986. While he lost the election, he remained active in politics. He recruited people from the gay community to fill Democrat Party precinct offices in Seattle and served as the Precinct Committee Officer for the 43rd District from approximately 1982 until 1990. He registered hundreds of voters in Capitol Hill and worked behind-the-scenes on Cal Anderson's election, helping Anderson become the first openly gay state legislator in 1987. Muggy also served as Vice President for the Lesbian and Gay Democrats of Greater Seattle. He managed to register over 1,000 voters in 1990, the year before his death from AIDS.