Frank's Day
Council Kudos for Kameny
To mark two occasions — the District’s 2007 Capital Pride week and the 50-year anniversary of Frank Kameny’s entry into the public fight for gay equality — the City Council on Tuesday, June 5, passed a ceremonial resolution.
Council Chairman Pro-Tempore Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) read the resolution to Kameny with Council members David Catania (I-At large) and Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), both of whom are gay, and Councilmember Carol Schwartz (R-At large) at his side.
Evans read, ”[T]he federal government investigatory misused an arrest record in 1957 to separate Dr. Frank Kameny from a Defense Department position and squelched his lifelong dream of aiding aerospace navigation and space exploration.”
Evans interrupted himself with a bit of levity.
”You could’ve been one of the first people to the moon,” he told Kameny with a laugh.
”I would’ve volunteered,” answered the unflappable Kameny.
Kameny, who celebrated his 82nd birthday May 21, accepted the honor by telling the Council and the audience, ”I’m very, very much honored. The job isn’t done yet. There are still some things undone. We’ll get to these, at least while I’m around.”
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