NMAC Mourns the Passing of Gay Rights Pioneer Frank Kameny

The following is a statement from National Minority AIDS Council Deputy Executive Director Daniel C. Montoya:

Washington, DC — “The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC) is deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Frank Kameny. A pioneer in the truest sense of the word, Mr. Kameny began his struggle for dignity and respect almost a decade before the Stonewall riots that marked the beginning of the modern gay rights movement. In 1961, he filed suit in the U.S. Supreme Court claiming that his expulsion from the U.S. Civil Service on the grounds that he was gay was a violation of his civil rights, the first such claim in our nation’s history. HIs action marked the beginning of a lifelong fight for equality that would last over four decades.

“Mr. Kameny’s commitment to equality and justice serves as an inspiration to millions and his legacy will continue to inspire for years to come. All people, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation or HIV status, deserve to live with dignity. On behalf of NMAC, its staff and its constituents, we thank Mr. Kameny for his decades of leadership and dedication and express our deepest sympathies to his loved ones.”

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Contact: Kyle Murphy, (202) 483-6622 ext. 333 kmurphy@nmac.org