Dr. Frank Kameny Quotes: Google Celebrates Pride Month By Honoring Gay Rights Activist

Google Doodle celebrated the second day of Pride Month by honoring astronomer and gay rights activist Dr. Frank Kameny. Kameny, who served in the army during World War II in Europe, was one of the most prominent figures of the U.S. LGBTQ rights movement.

Born in Queens, New York, on May 21, 1925, Kameny was fired from his job at Army Map Service based on an executive order that banned members of the LGBTQ community from federal employment. He later sued the federal government and, in 1961, filed the first gay rights appeal to the Supreme Court. In 1975, the Civil Service Commission reversed its ban on LGBTQ employees.

In 2009, Kameny received a formal apology from the U.S. government. Honoring the courageous work of Kameny, Washington D.C. named a stretch of 17th Street NW near Dupont Circle as "Frank Kameny Way" in June 2010.

June is observed annually as Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising – one of the major events in the Gay Liberation Movement – in Manhattan. Kameny had participated in the discussion, planning and promotion of the first Pride. The first Pride march in New York City was held on June 28, 1970, with three-five thousand marchers. For the last few years, the New York City march sees millions of people.

Here are some quotes, courtesy Quote Tab, to honor Kameny:

1. "When it was even seriously entertained that this would be a zoning issue, I blew up. Absolutely not."

2. "On a one-time basis for these O Street establishments, they should be exempted from all of these restrictions so they can move as a group if they want to [sic]some practical place."

3. "He was the up and equal homosexual who would not sit at the back of the bus."

4. "The person who really needs the psychotherapy (...) is not the homosexual youngster who gets dragged to the psychiatrist's office by his mother, but the mother, to relieve her anxieties about his homosexuality."

5. "As I have been saying for nearly a year, the law needs to be changed to allow the gay businesses to move to another part of the city."