Frank Kameny

The “Lavender Scare” forced thousands of gay and lesbian federal employees from their jobs in the late 1940s through the 1960s. But in Washington, the Mattachine Society fought back.

In 1971 Washington’s leading LGBT activist became the first openly gay man to run for Congress. In just a two month campaign, Frank Kameny put gay rights on D.C.'s political agenda- and made them stick.