This is a story I wrote for WHYY’s NewsWorks division on the street corner service honoring the late gay rights pioneer Frank Kameny in Philadelphia.

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Pioneering gay rights activist honored in Philly
October 22, 2011
By Eion O'Neill
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A group of LGBT activists gathered at the Gay Pioneers historical marker across from Independence Mall Friday to
honor the late gay rights leader Frank Kameny.
Kameny, who died this month at the age of 86, marched on Independence Hall in the 1960s to call for equality after he
was fired from his government job as an astronomer for being gay.
Malcolm Lazin, executive director of Equality Forum, explains the impact of Kameny's fight for equality.
"Frank literally changed the landscape," Lazin said. "It was literally 45 years ago, and look how much has changed.
He's not only impacted my life, but the lives of every lesbian, gay, transgender bisexual person in this country--and
helped us form a more perfect union."
Gloria Casarez, director of LGBT affairs for the City of Philadelphia, said Kameny's influence remains strong.
"The work I do every day is how our government sees and treats our LGBT residents and so there is a real connection
with how Frank initially became engaged in the fight and struggle for equality," she said.
Mark Segal, publisher of Philadelphia Gay News, had fond memories of first meeting Kameny.
"I met Frank in 1970 and when we first met, we didn't agree with each other. He taught me how to fight and to stand Top Stories
my ground and to go with my gut," Segal said. "I didn't know it at the time, but I was going to need that fight in order to
Drexel-Queen Lane land use committee
win the battles for this community that I was gonna have for the next 41 years."
addresses congested parking and public safety
Chris Bartlett, the executive director of William Way Community Center, said he has felt Kameny's impact through his concerns on campus
literary works. October 29 - Matt Grady
In room A-2, a sense of cooperation abounded. On
"When I was an 18-year-old gay man, I used to go to a bookstore called the Book Trader at Fifth and South Street. I Thursday evening, a dozen representatives of college and
used to read the old gay history books that were on the shelves there and there were quite a few books and articles by community attended a land-use planning meeting at
Frank Kameny," Bartlett recalled. Drexel University College of Medicine in East Falls. The
purpose of the session, More »
"He had this great idea that 'gay is good,' and he got the idea from the Black Power movement which at the same time
said 'black is beautiful.' He felt that it was important reminding people that the LGBT community were key influencers
and contributors to society in every level whether that's arts, culture, history, politics," Bartlett said. Read the complete Fumo resentencing
memorandum (contains obscenities)
Kameny fought for equality for the LGBT community into the 1970s and even ran for Congress in 1971. Kameny's October 28 - NewsWorks Staff
leadership helped push the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. More »
The Philadelphia memorial is one of many planned to mark Kameny's pioneering advocacy. Fumo lashes out in angry prison emails
Use October 28 - Dave Davies
the In a court filing you have to
Like Newsworks' Journalism? Give $5 to Newsworks NOW or LEARN HOW to text your donation. read to believe, federal
authorities say former state
pulldown to filter comments based on other users' ratings: All Sen. Vince Fumo has written
profane emails attacking
Please log in or register to post a comment. prosecutors and journalists,
declaring his innocence, and
promising to get even