One of the founders of the modern American gay rights 
movement, Frank Kameny brought a radical, take-charge attitude in place of more assimilationist policies that plagued many early gay leaders.
A child prodigy and WWII veteran, Kameny obtained a Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1956 and began work for the Army Map Service in 1957.
However, mere months into the job, rumors circulated regarding Kameny’s homosexuality, which culminated in his firing from the Map Service and being barred from all civil service jobs, reflecting a McCarthy-era mandate for all homosexuals at the time.
Kameny fought to regain his job for five years, including a personal appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and a suit against the government, both of which were denied.
Finally, in 1961, he decided to join with Jack Nichols to establish a D.C. version of the homophile group Mattachine Society.
Reflecting both Kameny’s personal priorities and local complaints, the Mattachine Society of Washington focused on ending sexual orientation discrimination in civil service positions and the military.
It organized the first gay protests in front of the White House in April 1965, in which Kameny, Barbara Gittings, and other prominent activists participated. Kameny’s work along with the Mattachine Society eventually led to the Civil Service Commission to amend its anti-gay policies in 1975.
He also advised countless armed services members in coping with anti-gay military policies.
In addition to his civil and military service radicalism, he also battled the American Psychiatric Association in an effort to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder, disrupting the APA annual meeting in 1971 and fostering the eventual removal of homosexuality from its list of illnesses.
To top off an already growing list of achievements, Kameny became the first openly gay person to run for Congress, using the campaign to publicize the issue of unequal government treatment of the community. He is one of the oldest surviving activists, celebrating his 80th birthday last May.
movement, Frank Kameny brought a radical, take-charge attitude in place of more assimilationist policies that plagued many early gay leaders. A child prodigy and WWII veteran, Kameny obtained a Ph.D. in astronomy from Harvard University in 1956 and began work for the Army Map Service in 1957.
However, mere months into the job, rumors circulated regarding Kameny’s homosexuality, which culminated in his firing from the Map Service and being barred from all civil service jobs, reflecting a McCarthy-era mandate for all homosexuals at the time.
Kameny fought to regain his job for five years, including a personal appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and a suit against the government, both of which were denied.Finally, in 1961, he decided to join with Jack Nichols to establish a D.C. version of the homophile group Mattachine Society.
Reflecting both Kameny’s personal priorities and local complaints, the Mattachine Society of Washington focused on ending sexual orientation discrimination in civil service positions and the military.
It organized the first gay protests in front of the White House in April 1965, in which Kameny, Barbara Gittings, and other prominent activists participated. Kameny’s work along with the Mattachine Society eventually led to the Civil Service Commission to amend its anti-gay policies in 1975.
He also advised countless armed services members in coping with anti-gay military policies.
In addition to his civil and military service radicalism, he also battled the American Psychiatric Association in an effort to remove homosexuality as a mental disorder, disrupting the APA annual meeting in 1971 and fostering the eventual removal of homosexuality from its list of illnesses.
To top off an already growing list of achievements, Kameny became the first openly gay person to run for Congress, using the campaign to publicize the issue of unequal government treatment of the community. He is one of the oldest surviving activists, celebrating his 80th birthday last May.
*By Jason Villemez, 365Gay.com
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