Press release announcing formation of the Washington Area Council on Religion and the Homosexual
lgbt rights
This press release was created to inform the public of DC about the formation of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual. This document shows just how many things that the Mattachine Society was involved in
The Mattachine Society
The Rainbow History Project
May 24th, 1965
Frank Kameny
Frank Kameny
Frank Kameny was the founder, and the origin of the shockwave that began the LGBT Rights Activism movement in Washington D.C. He was also the founder of the Mattachine Society
Frank Kameny
The Rainbow History Project
Department on State Letter
lgbt rights
This letter from the State Department to Frank Kameny clearly states that homosexuals were not seen as qualified to be employed by the government, because they were "threats to national security", and generally treated as second class citizens.
The State Department on the US
The Lavender Scare
Protesting the White House
lgbt rights
This is a photo of Lige Clark was a civilian who worked in the Office of the Army chief of staff, protesting The White House for LGBT Rights. Clarke and other picketers wore sunglasses to mask their identity.
David K. Johnson
The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government.
The Lavender Scare
1971
Executive Order 10450
lgbt Rights
President Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450 in order to make sexual orientation a legal grounds for dismissal from the US government job sector, on the basis of "keeping up good moral character and conduct". This document shows that the Lavender Scare was completely legal, which made it even more terrifying.
President Eisenhower
The Lavender Scare
Kameny's Appeal to the US Supreme Court
lgbt rights
After being fired from his US Government job in 1957 for being gay, Kameny appealed his case to the court system. He lost in the judicial system twice, and appealed his case to the Supreme Court with a carefully written, unapologetic, 64 page writ of certiorari where the case was unanimously dismissed on March 19th, 1961. This document is his 64 page writ, and Kameny's appeal was used as the basis for the Mattachine Society's defense of all the cases that they worked on for other LGBT people who had been dismissed from their jobs during the Lavender Scare.
Frank Kameny
Rainbow History Project
1961
News Release from the Mattchine Society of Washington DC
LGBT rights
This news release from the MSW came out in 1962 on August 8th when the organization was first developing and embarking on its mission to help LGBT people in the DC area. This document essentially announces the formation of the organization, along with its intent, goals, and the services they were hoping to provide.
Frank Kameny
Rainbow History Project
August 8th, 1962
Questionnaire on Blackmail of Homosexuals
LGBT Rights
This questionnaire was issued and created by the Mattachine Society in order to gather information about blackmailing procedures, and how they related to the safety of LGBT people in their jobs and in their daily lives
Frank Kameny
Rainbow History Project
The Mattachine Society
1960s
The Mattachine Society of Washington D.C.
LGBT Rights
When the Mattachine Society of Washington D.C. was established in 1961, the organization drafted a constitution about how things were to be run. This document outlines everything about the Mattachine Society from the purpose of the organization, to how elections would be run, to members and rights.
Frank Kameny
The Rainbow History Project
August 27th, 1963
The Undeclared Witch Hunt
Gays in the government
This newspaper clipping talks about the trial of Benning Wenworth against the United States Federal Government that was fought after Wenworth last his security clearance as a government employee after he went public with his homosexual identity. The paper talks about how the government is not only searching for commies in the government, but now LGBT people are the targets for investigation in government jobs. Frank Kameny fought on this case, and this document contributes to showing how one of the biggest contributions that DC made to the movement was the controversy surrounding gays in the government
Tom Wicker
The Kameny Papers
Harpers Nov
1969