Who was Frank Kameny, USA’s firebrand gay rights activist

As Pride Month kickstarted in June, Google has honoured gay rights activist, Frank Kameny, with a doodle. As an activist, Kameny played a 

significant role in the LGBTQIA+ movement in the United States. His was amongst the premier voices who raised issues of gay rights and pride. 

Born in 1925 in the city of Queens, New York, Franklin Edward Kameny received education at Queen’s college but he had to quit his studies as soon as he got into the US army during World War II.

Also Read: From ‘Eternals’ to ‘Spiral’, a look at Hollywood films that celebrate LGBTQ

As soon as the war ended, he returned to complete his education and earned a degree in physics and later a doctorate degree in astronomy from Harvard University.

In the year 1957, he secured a job at the US Army Map service but was fired as soon as people found out that he was gay. During those days under Executive Order 10450, a person could lose employment over what was called sexual perversion.

Kameny took the matter to the Supreme Court but there also he faced disappointment as his case was dismissed. He then organised the very first gay rights protest outside the White House in the year 1960s

Also Read: Good news for non-Taiwanese couples: Taiwan court’s ruling on same-sex marriages

In the 1970s he challenged the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder and finally in 1975, the Civil Service Commission reversed the LGBTQIA+ ban on employees. Kemeny became the first gay candidate to stand for the US Congress election in 1971.

June is celebrated as Pride month because it was on June 28, 1969, when the members of the gay community raised their voice against injustice and took the parade march from Manhatten Stonewall.