Declaring May 21, 2025, as Frank Kameny Day in the City of Philadelphia.

Declaring May 21, 2025, as Frank Kameny Day in the City of Philadelphia. WHEREAS, Franklin Edward Kameny was born on May 21, 1925 to parents Emil and Rae Beck Kameny in Queens, New York. From an early age, Frank knew he wanted to be a scientist. In 1941, Frank graduated from Richmond Hill High School at the age of 16; and WHEREAS, Too young for the draft, in May 1943, Frank enlisted in the U.S. Army to participate in the Army Specialized Training Program (ASTP), a program that allowed enlisted men to pursue college courses in math, engineering, and science. He underwent basic training at Fort Benning, Georgia and began studying mechanical engineering; and WHEREAS, During World War II, Frank served as Private First Class, infantry private in Europe, and his unit was the 58 th Armored Infantry Battalion, 8 th Armored Division, 9 th Army; and WHEREAS, Frank received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics from Queens College, a Master of Science degree in Astronomy from Harvard University, and a Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University; and WHEREAS, In July 1957, Frank started his dream job as an astronomer with the U.S. Army Map Service in Washington, D.C. His role was to supervise observation teams and collect data on stellar occultations; and WHEREAS, In October 1957, Frank was fired from the U.S. Army Map Service and barred from future employment by the federal government because he was gay. A background investigation that uncovered information about Kameny’s homosexuality…