He Coined “Gay is Good”: Frank Kameny, Pioneer

Philadelphia Memorial Service

for Gay Pioneer Frank Kameny

Father of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement

WHEN:  Friday, October 21, 2011 from 12:15 – 12:45 p.m.

WHERE:  Gay Pioneers Historical Marker, 6^th & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, across from Independence Hall and Liberty Bell Center, designating the site of the first organized annual gay and lesbian demonstrations.

BACKGROUND: Frank Kameny spearheaded the “Annual Reminders,” the first organized gay and lesbian demonstrations of activists at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell each July 4^th from 1965 to 1969.

Gays and lesbians were denied employment by the federal government. Frank Kameny was single-handedly responsible through remarkable intensity and perseverance in having the United States Civil Service Commission end the policy of prohibiting gays and lesbians from government service.

SPEAKERS:  Chris Bartlett, Executive Director, William Way Community Center, Gloria Casarez, Director of LGBT Affairs, City of Philadelphia, Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director, Equality Forum, Mark Segal, Publisher, Philadelphia Gay News.

Equality Forum, a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month, undertakes high-impact initiatives, and presents the largest annual national and international LGBT civil rights summit.