Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House, Civil rights landmark in Cathedral Avenue, Washington DC, United States
The Dr. Franklin E. Kameny House is a two-story brick residence built in 1955 on Cathedral Avenue, designed in Colonial Revival style with characteristic period details. The structure includes a screened porch and a single-car garage on the property.
After being dismissed from the Army Map Service in 1957, Dr. Kameny established this house as a base for organizing civil rights activism. The strategies developed here contributed to significant changes in how society viewed LGBTQ people.
From 1962 to 2000, the residence served as a gathering place for activists and housed the offices and archives of the Mattachine Society of Washington. Visitors can see where people met to organize and plan strategies for equal rights.
The house is located in a residential neighborhood and can be found along Cathedral Avenue. Since it remains a private residence, it is advisable to check in advance whether it is open for visitors or if a tour can be arranged.
Strategies developed at this house led to removing homosexuality from the psychiatric classification system in 1973, a watershed moment in medical history. This landmark achievement resulted from years of dedicated organizing that was coordinated from within these walls.
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