Commemorating Dr. John Fryer

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Commemorating Dr. John Fryer

Please note the dedication ceremony will be held at 1:00 p.m.

Tuesday, 10/3/17
10:00 am - 2:00 pm

Event Type

Exhibit/Display
The Historical Society of Pennsylvania
1300 Locust St.
19107 Philadelphia , PA
Pennsylvania

To coincide with the dedication of a historic marker commemorating the work of Dr. John Fryer, HSP will have original documents on display from the Fryer collection.  The dedication will take place on Tuesday, October 3rd, at 1:00 p.m. on the northeast corner of 13th and Locust streets, diagonally across from HSP. The documents will be available to view from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public. 


Who Was Dr. Fryer? - In 1972, a disguised speaker – Dr. Anonymous (John Fryer) – addressed the American Psychiatric Association (APA) regarding its classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. Until this time, homosexual men and women were considered ill, with the APA's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual recommending "cures" including electro-shock therapy and lobotomy.

The following year, the APA removed the classification, the culmination of Dr. Anonymous' work as well as the efforts of protestors Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings.