Frank Kameny

About

American gay rights activist who launched the first discrimination lawsuit on the basis of sexual orientation. He went on to become a pioneer in the field of gay civil rights activism. 

Before Fame

He studied physics at Queens College, City University of New York. He was drafted into military service and fought in World War II before returning to the United States to enroll at Harvard University. He graduated from Harvard with a doctorate in astronomy. 

Trivia

In 1961, he successfully co-organized some of the first public protests in support of gay rights, one of which was staged in front of the White House. He went on to form The Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Washington, DC. 

Family Life

His parents were of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. His childhood home is listed as part of the New York City LGBT Historic Sites Project. 

Associated With

He was active in the struggle for gay civil rights at the same time Martin Luther King Jr. was fighting for Black civil rights.