After the release of certain secret recordings, we know that Richard Nixon was no friend to the gays, in fact, he hated us with a passion. Gay activist Frank Kameny was made well aware of the federal government's feeling toward gays when he received a strongly worded (to say the least) letter from the Federal Personnel Office. The letter was in response to Kameny's complaint over the firing of an employee based on sexual orientation.
The letter, sent in 1971 read:
"The activities of sodomy, fellatio, anal intercourse, mutual masturbation, and homosexual caressing and rubbing of bodies together to obtain sexual excitement or climax are considered to be acts of sexual perversions and to be acts of immoral conduct, which, under present mores of our society, are regarded as scandalous, disgraceful, and abhorrent to the overwhelming majority of people."
I can't believe the federal government would send such a letter!
The point and silver lining here though is that over the weekend an openly gay man, John Berry, was picked to head that same office. Berry was nominated by President Obama, and in a great gesture has invited Kameny to be at his swearing in!
Times have changed indeed.
– Andy
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