LGBTQIAA
Steve Endean:
1948-1993
Leader of multiple gay rights organizations.
Born in Davenport, Iowa in 1948, Steve Endean moved to Minnesota where he attended the University of Minnesota. Here he became the founder of Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights. After a backlash against gay rights, Endean knew that in order for a mature political movement to happen, he would need to form Gay Rights National Lobby. This plan brought awareness to gay-friendly political candidates, which lead to his creation of the Human Rights Campaign (Fund) where he served as Executive Director. This campaign was the first national gay rights political action committee. After being diagnosed with AIDS, Endean devoted his time to initiating the National Endorsement Campaign which focused on persuading political and media leaders to publicly support gay and lesbian rights. He also began to write his movement memoir “Into the Mainstream”. Endean spent several years serving in many leadership positions until 1991 when his decreasing health forced his retirement. His last project before his 1993 death was the National Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Act. Although this bill has yet to be passed in whole, many of its goals have been accomplished and stand as legacies to his drive and vision.
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/endean_s.html
http://www.ncourageu.org/images/stephenendean.jpg
Frank Kameny:
1925-2011
Homosexual political pioneer.
In 1940 when Frank Kameny entered college to study physics he never thought he would end his life as a widely recognized gay rights activist. Before he completed his studies, Kameny left to serve in World War II. Years after the war, he finally received his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University. With his new degree, Kameny was able to obtain a civil service job with the US Army Map Service in July 1957. Unfortunately, many began questioning his sexuality, which led being fired later that year. Then, in January of 1958, he was barred forever from federal government employment. During this time, homosexuality was seen as a sickness and sinful. But, being a scientist trained in questioning others’ theory, Kameny decided to sue. After several appeals and failures on his own, he decided it was time to organize a group. In 1961, Kameny founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. This group began a battle to stop the subjective firing of federal employees simply because of their sexual orientation. To gain attention and support, the group organized demonstrations at the White House and published newsletters in The Gazette. Kameny’s slogan of “Gay is good” was key in his speech to the American Psychiatric Association in which he said that their treatment was harmful to the wellbeing of millions. In 1971, Kameny founded the Gay Activist Alliance (now the Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance). He was also appointed Commissioner of the D.C. Commission on Human Rights, which led him to becoming the first gay municipal appointee. Kameny maintained a full schedule of public appearances until his death in 2011.
http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/globe/kameny.htm
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bfae553ef0153923fd82c970b-pi
Barbara Gittings:
1932-2007
Gay equality activist.
While attending Northwestern University in 1949, Barbara Gittings consulted with a school psychiatrist who confirmed her suspicions that she was homosexual, and, shockingly enough offered to ‘cure’ her. Appalled at this statement, Gittings set out to do her own research. One article, The Homosexual in America, caught her eye and caused her to contact Edward Sagarin- the author. From him Gittings learned about several organizations that she would later take important roles in. She was asked to form the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis- the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. It was actually at a DOB picnic where Gittings met her life partner. Through her DOB position, she became editor of The Ladder- the first nationally distributed lesbian publication in the United States. Her position in DOB also introduced her to Frank Kameny who later invited her to join in his efforts to campaign to have homosexually eliminated from a list of mental disorders. In 1973 their wish was granted. Although happy with this small win, Gittings was still upset about the lack of literature available to those in the community. This led her to take a leadership position in the Task Force on Gay Liberation (later renamed Gay Task Force). Upon her death, Gittings’ partner donated all of her collection of books and other documents to libraries and archives to assist others who walk in the blazed path.
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/gittings_b.html
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/images/gittings.jpg
Geena Rocero:
1983-present
Transgender model.
Born in the Philippines, model Geena Rocero knew that her gender assignment at birth was incorrect. At age 15, Rocero was approached to join a beauty contest. This contest would open the door to the TransWomen Beauty Pageant. After having success in the several beauty pageants, she moved to New York to pursue a modeling career. Soon after moving to America, she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream- sex reassignment surgery. Rocero was happy with her career, but realized that her greater purpose in life was to share her journey and work towards justice and beauty in the transgender community. In March of 2014, in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Rocero came out as transgender while giving a TED talk. She was used to being in the spotlight, but this particular performance was unlike anything she had ever done before. She felt relieved and reborn. Since sharing her secret with the world, Rocero spends most of her time on Gender Proud- an organization she founded to make sure people around the world can change their gender on legal documents and to address the violence and discrimination that still affects them. She also studies the issues of depression, anxiety, and cyber bulling as to encourage acceptance.
http://blogs.webster.edu/webstertoday/2014/11/07/nov-19-geena-rocero-model-and-transgender-advocate-founder-of-gender-proud/
http://img.tedcdn.com/r/images.ted.com/images/ted/e144118ac42866b5861a03ca4eadda226343e889_1600x1200.jpg?ll=1&quality=89&w=800
1948-1993
Leader of multiple gay rights organizations.
Born in Davenport, Iowa in 1948, Steve Endean moved to Minnesota where he attended the University of Minnesota. Here he became the founder of Minnesota Committee for Gay Rights. After a backlash against gay rights, Endean knew that in order for a mature political movement to happen, he would need to form Gay Rights National Lobby. This plan brought awareness to gay-friendly political candidates, which lead to his creation of the Human Rights Campaign (Fund) where he served as Executive Director. This campaign was the first national gay rights political action committee. After being diagnosed with AIDS, Endean devoted his time to initiating the National Endorsement Campaign which focused on persuading political and media leaders to publicly support gay and lesbian rights. He also began to write his movement memoir “Into the Mainstream”. Endean spent several years serving in many leadership positions until 1991 when his decreasing health forced his retirement. His last project before his 1993 death was the National Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Act. Although this bill has yet to be passed in whole, many of its goals have been accomplished and stand as legacies to his drive and vision.
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/endean_s.html
http://www.ncourageu.org/images/stephenendean.jpg
Frank Kameny:
1925-2011
Homosexual political pioneer.
In 1940 when Frank Kameny entered college to study physics he never thought he would end his life as a widely recognized gay rights activist. Before he completed his studies, Kameny left to serve in World War II. Years after the war, he finally received his doctorate in astronomy from Harvard University. With his new degree, Kameny was able to obtain a civil service job with the US Army Map Service in July 1957. Unfortunately, many began questioning his sexuality, which led being fired later that year. Then, in January of 1958, he was barred forever from federal government employment. During this time, homosexuality was seen as a sickness and sinful. But, being a scientist trained in questioning others’ theory, Kameny decided to sue. After several appeals and failures on his own, he decided it was time to organize a group. In 1961, Kameny founded the Mattachine Society of Washington, D.C. This group began a battle to stop the subjective firing of federal employees simply because of their sexual orientation. To gain attention and support, the group organized demonstrations at the White House and published newsletters in The Gazette. Kameny’s slogan of “Gay is good” was key in his speech to the American Psychiatric Association in which he said that their treatment was harmful to the wellbeing of millions. In 1971, Kameny founded the Gay Activist Alliance (now the Gay and Lesbian Activist Alliance). He was also appointed Commissioner of the D.C. Commission on Human Rights, which led him to becoming the first gay municipal appointee. Kameny maintained a full schedule of public appearances until his death in 2011.
http://www.bnl.gov/bera/activities/globe/kameny.htm
http://lawprofessors.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341bfae553ef0153923fd82c970b-pi
Barbara Gittings:
1932-2007
Gay equality activist.
While attending Northwestern University in 1949, Barbara Gittings consulted with a school psychiatrist who confirmed her suspicions that she was homosexual, and, shockingly enough offered to ‘cure’ her. Appalled at this statement, Gittings set out to do her own research. One article, The Homosexual in America, caught her eye and caused her to contact Edward Sagarin- the author. From him Gittings learned about several organizations that she would later take important roles in. She was asked to form the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis- the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. It was actually at a DOB picnic where Gittings met her life partner. Through her DOB position, she became editor of The Ladder- the first nationally distributed lesbian publication in the United States. Her position in DOB also introduced her to Frank Kameny who later invited her to join in his efforts to campaign to have homosexually eliminated from a list of mental disorders. In 1973 their wish was granted. Although happy with this small win, Gittings was still upset about the lack of literature available to those in the community. This led her to take a leadership position in the Task Force on Gay Liberation (later renamed Gay Task Force). Upon her death, Gittings’ partner donated all of her collection of books and other documents to libraries and archives to assist others who walk in the blazed path.
http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/gittings_b.html
http://miamiherald.typepad.com/gaysouthflorida/images/gittings.jpg
Geena Rocero:
1983-present
Transgender model.
Born in the Philippines, model Geena Rocero knew that her gender assignment at birth was incorrect. At age 15, Rocero was approached to join a beauty contest. This contest would open the door to the TransWomen Beauty Pageant. After having success in the several beauty pageants, she moved to New York to pursue a modeling career. Soon after moving to America, she was able to fulfill her lifelong dream- sex reassignment surgery. Rocero was happy with her career, but realized that her greater purpose in life was to share her journey and work towards justice and beauty in the transgender community. In March of 2014, in honor of International Transgender Day of Visibility, Rocero came out as transgender while giving a TED talk. She was used to being in the spotlight, but this particular performance was unlike anything she had ever done before. She felt relieved and reborn. Since sharing her secret with the world, Rocero spends most of her time on Gender Proud- an organization she founded to make sure people around the world can change their gender on legal documents and to address the violence and discrimination that still affects them. She also studies the issues of depression, anxiety, and cyber bulling as to encourage acceptance.
http://blogs.webster.edu/webstertoday/2014/11/07/nov-19-geena-rocero-model-and-transgender-advocate-founder-of-gender-proud/
http://img.tedcdn.com/r/images.ted.com/images/ted/e144118ac42866b5861a03ca4eadda226343e889_1600x1200.jpg?ll=1&quality=89&w=800