#frank kameny
“QUARTER MILLION HOMOSEXUAL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES PROTEST CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION POLICY,” members of the East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO) (including Craig Rodwell, far right, and Lilli Vincenz, left) picket the Civil Service Commission, Washington, D.C., June 26, 1965. Photo by Kay Tobin, c/o @nyplpicturecollection.
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On June 26, 1965, fifty-two years ago today, members of the East Coast Homophile Organizations (ECHO) continued with their controversial new direct-action approach, holding a protest at the Civil Service Commission (CSC), the federal agency charged with implementing the government’s “merit-based hiring” scheme.
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While the group previously had picketed the White House (twice, in fact, once on April 17, 1965, and again on May 29), the CSC protest was of particular importance to Frank Kameny, the president of Mattachine Society Washington (MSW), who lost his government job in 1957 pursuant to CSC regulations requiring the termination of known homosexuals.
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The protest garnered enough press that CSC officials soon requested a meeting with MSW members; while it took another decade before the CSC officially changed its policy regarding homosexual employees, the meeting between gay activists and federal officials was a historic first.
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In 2009, John Berry, the openly-gay Director of the Office of Personnel Management, the CSC’s successor agency, formally apologized to Frank Kameny on behalf of the federal government, saying “Please accept our apology for the consequences of the previous policy of the United States government, and please accept the gratitude and appreciation of the United States Office of Personnel Management for the work you have done to fight discrimination and protect the merit-based civil service system.”
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“Apology accepted,” Kameny responded. #lgbthistory #HavePrideInHistory #Resist #Pride2017 (at Washington, District of Columbia)
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People of Pride #2: Frank Kameny
Every day in June, I will be posting an illustration that highlights an LGBT+ activist who I believe everyone should know. This series will be in no way comprehensive, & will include a multitude of identities, races, sexualities, and genders. My goal is to bring some awareness to those who have paved the way for this to be a month of celebration.
The 2nd activist I’ve chosen to spotlight is Frank Kameny (of course he has to come right after Barbara Gittings), you can learn more about his incredible achievements and activism here:
- http://www.kamenypapers.org/index.htm
- https://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/globe/kameny.htm
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-partisan/post/frank-kameny-american-hero/2011/03/04/gIQAH2DRfL_blog.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.9365de84ab90
If there is an activist who you feel should be included in this series, send them my way, sales regarding this series will be announced shortly!
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After you’re done reading QUEERS READ THIS you should take a look at the FBI file about The Gay Agenda™ that was released back in July. It’s only 947 pages long. You know, a little light reading before bedtime.
Here’s what Michael Petrelis reported:
The good folks at GovernmentAttic.com, through a Freedom of Information Act request, have
obtained the 947-page Federal Bureau of Investigation file on the Mattachine Society, a gay lib
org started in the 1950s by a handful of brave homosexuals, and the entire file is now available
at the site for everyone to read.
Read it here. It opens up as a PDF file.
[Frank Kameny and Mattachine Society of Washington members marching]
Frank Kameny and Jack Nichols picket the White House with Washington Mattachine Society members in 1965.
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