Join us for Yappy Hour on Thursday, June 12th 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM! 🐾 Summer has arrived at Historic Congressional Cemetery, and it’s time to gather with fellow K9 members for an evening of fun under the setting sun. Make new friends, sip a cold drink, enjoy pup-friendly treats, and swap stories on the rolling lawns of Historic Congressional Cemetery. Mark your calendar for an evening of fun, connection, and plenty of tail-wagging moments—you won't want to miss it! #yappyhour #congressionalcemetery #dcevents #thingstodoindc #k9corps #dogsofinstagram #dcdogs #dogsofHCC (fb)

“Gay Is Good.” It is a simple message, coined by activist Frank Kameny in 1968. But gay was good long before 1968, and Kameny had already been in the trenches for some time. Born in New York City on May 21, 1925, a century ago today, Kameny was an Army veteran who fought on the front lines in Europe during World War II. Kameny then used the G.I. Bill to help complete his college career. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in physics in 1947. A decade later, he had a doctorate in astrophysics and was employed in a temporary position by the Army Map Service. When the AMS found out that Kameny was arrested the year prior for “lewd” conduct with another man at a San Francisco bus terminal, it dismissed him and revoked his security clearance. The December 1957 notice of separation stated that his termination, "was considered justifiable to better promote the efficiency of the Federal service and no action will be taken to reinstate you to your former position." Kameny did not go quietly. He sued Army Secretary Wilber M. Brucker for wrongful termination. His firing was upheld by the DC Court of Appeals in June 1960, and a petition for rehearing was denied that August. Though his own legal battle was unsuccessful, he launched a new career as a paralegal who helped other gay Americans fight discrimination. He was also an active protestor and public speaker. Kameny led the movement to have homosexuality removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Illnesses, a goal which was achieved in 1973. Kameny died in 2011 in Washington, D.C. and was cremated. A plot at Historic Congressional Cemetery’s Gay Corner, purchased by the local LGBTQ+ charity Helping Our Brothers and Sisters, is the site of a cenotaph (empty tomb) which serves as a reminder of Kameny’s life, service, and activism. HCC remembers him today, on the centennial of his birth. #frankkameny #kameny #pride #worldpride #gayisgood #gayrights #lqbtqia #congressionalcemetery #dc #washingtondc #cemeteries #cemeteryphotography #veteranshistory (fb)