As President Barack Obama signed into law the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, sitting in a seat at the front of the audience was 85-year-old Frank Kameny. Kameny attended wearing the Combat Infantryman Badge that he was awarded for his service in World War II. He recalls his service fighting in the wake of the Battle of the Bulge by saying, “I dug my way across Europe slit trench by slit trench, practically.”
But Kameny was not invited because of any heroism he demonstrated in World War II, but rather for a much greater act of courage than even that conflict had demanded of him. Kameny was invited because it was he who began the assault on the military policy of discharging homosexuals by leading a demonstration at the Pentagon in 1965.
Indeed, it was Kameny who called upon the minuscule pre-Stonewall gay rights movement – known then as the homophile movement – to model itself upon the civil rights movement.
When lesbians and gay men were so totally ostracized, what Frank achieved in those dark days of the sixties was truly amazing. As a result, Frank was the subject of much anti-gay discrimination and has only a very modest retirement income. Today at the age of 85, Frank continues to enjoy an acute memory for his personal history and biography, yet with aging, he struggles more with his day to day needs.
This is where the group Helping Our Brothers & Sisters (HOBS), run by Dr. Marvin Carter, steps in to help Frank and others like him. Dr. Carter says, “HOBS has been working with Frank for some time now, insuring that his basic life needs are met. HOBS provides him with taxi vouchers to use when he is unable to get a ride from someone. We try to make sure his utilities are paid, phone, electricity, heat, etc… We have worked with many other fine organizations in coordinating his needs. We are in constant communication with DC government officials, attempting to make sure city services are available to Dr. Kameny. We also gathered the donations this year to pay Frank’s real estate taxes of over $2,000.”
HOBS also works with many other discrimination cases that are horrific stories of the plight of many in the LGBT community. HOBS has no paid staff, however they have a great group of volunteers and dedicated board members who are committed to helping marginalized members of the LGBT community in D.C.
If you would like additional information, or if you would like to help Frank, please contact:
Marvin Carter
Helping Our Brothers & Sisters
Post Office Box 53477
Washington, DC 20009
Telephone: (202) 986-6317
E-Mail: RavenArrow@aol.com
Website:
