A single-page letter dated August 28, 1962 from The Mattachine Society of Washington to former House Representative Paul C. Jones. The letter accompanies an enclosed news release (not shown) about the newly formed organization advocating for homosexual rights, signed by Franklin E. Kameny, President of The Mattachine Society of Washington. Handwritten comment in red ink by Jones reads, "I am unalterably opposed to your proposal and cannot see how any person in his right mind can condone the practices which you would justify. Please do not contaminate my mail with such filthy trash."
Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session on S. 1284, to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation
Hearing of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventh Congress, second session on S. 1284, to prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
In the 1950's, the U.S. Government believed that homosexual should not be employed by the federal government because they could be blackmailed by the country's enemies. Congress issued a number of reports on the need to root out and fire known homosexuals from the government.
Frank Kameny was an early LGBTQ activist. After being fired from his job in the Army Map Service in 1957 for being a homosexual, he sued and lost. Kameny then became an activist and went on to found the Mattachine Society of Washington, DC.