PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia officials and members of the LGBTQ community joined together this week to honor late psychiatrist John Fryer. His courageous advocacy had a huge impact on the way his profession regards sexual orientation.
In May 1972, Fryer, who was dressed in an oversized tuxedo and a rubber mask, addressed the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association in just 81 words and used a voice-distorting microphone. He urged members to remove “homosexuality” from its list of mental disorders.
Fryer called him "Dr. Henry Anonymous" because coming out as gay could have cost him his license. He was also a psychiatry professor at Temple University.
Malcolm Lazin, of the Equality Forum, led a commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Fryer's speech. Speakers included Saul Levin, the current CEO of the American Psychological Association.
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"I am only standing here today because of John Fryer standing up," Levin said, "when his career was in great jeopardy by doing it."
Fryer’s efforts succeeded. The term was removed in 1973.
The gathering was held at a historic marker on 13th Street near Locust Street to Fryer in the Gayborhood. Fryer’s Germantown home also received historic designation in March. He died in 2003.
Learn about Mark Segal, another Philadelphia LGBTQ pioneer, on KYW Newsradio In Depth.
