Dr. Frank Kameny, Jewish Gay Rights Pioneer, Dies At 86

Dr. Frank Kameny lived many of his 86-years as an out activist, leader and hero. It is with only a blessed form of irony that he left us today, on National Coming Out Day. May Frank’s memory be for a blessing. To understand our LGBT American history please get to know a bit more about his story. Our history and our civil rights seemed to be paired perfectly with Frank Kameny’s once radical notion that we have a right in this country to stand up for, “First Class Citizenship for Homosexuals.” Right on, brother.

Some of Frank Kameny's z"l donated picket signs and buttons are on display as part of an exhibit at the National Air and Space Museum where they are on loan from the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. The signs read, "First Class Citizenship for Homosexuals" and "Discrimination Against Homosexuals Is As Immoral As Discrimination Against Negros and Jews."

Dr. Frank Kameny z"l marching with the Mattachine Society of Washington D.C.

First coined by US Politcal candidate Frank Kameny z"l in 1968, someone else added the word "so" to the original graffiti. Perhaps a reflection of that person's opinion on how far gays have come since 1968... Thank you Frank.

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Gay Ugandan refugee finds home in Jewish Bay Area

Yasher Koach and Todah Rabah to Avi Rose & Jewish Family and Children Services of the East Bay as well as all of those that were involved.

Do you remember when a few Americans got involved in launching a political movement to eliminate homosexuality in Uganda? How about when The Rachel Maddow Show covered this anti-gay hysteria with the catchy title, “Uganda Be Kidding Me“? Do you remember learning about the murder of David Kato after a Ugandan media outlet published his name and photograph along with 99 additional Ugandan leaders with the corresponding title, “Top 100 Homosexuals – Hang Them”? (read more)

It was within this mishigas that Bay Area LGBT Jewish community leader, Avi Rose with Jewish Family and Children’s Services of the East Bay (JFCS) began to take action. Now, Danny Dyson, a Ugandan refugee who gained asylum status based on all of this anti-gay persecution, is living here in the Bay Area.

What’s next? Gay refugees settling in our community from Iran? Yes! I understand more LGBT folks will be joining us from both Iran and Uganda soon thanks again to Avi Rose, JFCS, a few philanthropists and the Direction of Neil Grungras with the Organization for Refuge Asylum and Migration (ORAM). These amazing leaders and advocates truly help make our Jewish community shine…

Related articles

• Learn more about our new Bay Area community member Danny Dyson, in a article by Matt O’Brien, Gay Ugandan Refugee Finds Home in Bay Area (Contra Costs Times)
• Ugandan ‘Kill the Gays’ Bill Is Back (Bilerico.com)
• Network with Bay Area LGBT Jewish Professionals over a free five-series lunch and learn! (Jewish Community Federation)
• What is the group that advocates for refugees fleeing sexual or gender based violence all about? (ORAM)
• Tulituuka Women’s Group : Uganda (Kiva.org)
• Queer and Jewish? Looking for something to do in San Francisco? Take a look at our LGBT Calendar! (Jewish Federation)
• Uganda Is Trying To Sneak The “Kill The Gays” Bill Under Our Noses (queerty.com)

 

david kato

david kato’s murder last wednesday comes subsequently after a ugandan media outlet published his name and photograph along with 99 additional ugandan leaders with the corresponding title, “top 100 homosexuals – hang them.” it is in grief for the loss of yet another human rights defender that we as jews part of the larger jewish community join together to demand justice and protection for all human rights defenders. i have signed onto a statement prepared by american jewish world service (ajws) to express my jewish solidarity with lgbti ugandans.

please consider adding your name or the name to the statement located here. read rabbi denise eger’s statement about mourning the loss of david kato as a great hero here. may the memory of david kato be for a blessing.

David Kato was found with serious wounds to his head at his home on Wednesday. Kato and two other gay activists sued a newspaper over claims that it had violated their constitutional rights to privacy and won the case earlier this month

Activists were outraged over the death of David Kato, an advocacy officer for the gay rights group Sexual Minorities Uganda. His slaying comes after a year of stepped up threats against gays in Uganda, where a controversial bill has proposed the death penalty for some homosexual acts.

It was reported by CNN that a pastor rebuked homosexuals at David Kato's funeral, prompting chaos as sympathizers stormed the pulpit and grabbed his microphone away.

Read more:

• An article featured on Change.org on Speaking Out as Voices of Faith by Ruth Messinger
• An article featured in The Forward on Confronting Hate by Ruth Messinger
• A grantmaking strategy paper on advancing an Inclusive Human Rights Agenda