Who is Dr. John Fryer?

Do you know Dr. John Fryer?

What if I told you that you owe your life as it is today to this man?

How, you ask?

The American Psychiatric Association holds an annual convention where members gather to discuss and share ideas, compelling issues, and other psychiatric-related topics. At the annual convention in 1972, Dr. John Fryer became an unsung hero.

In 1972, homosexuality was illegal in most states due to anti-sodomy laws that targeted the demographic. Additionally, the American Psychiatric Association defined it as a mental illness. Status as a second-class citizen, an outcast in the heteronormative society, would remain so long as its' classification remained.

We already know that you could be fired at this time for being gay (just the suspicion of it was enough), you could be arrested for wearing non-gender affirming clothing, and if you were either open or unable to "pass," you had few prospects. Therefore, being gay and a psychiatrist was a sure-fire way to lose your license or have trouble getting one.

So how did Dr. Fryer change the direction of LGBTQ+ rights? Why have we never heard of him?

Because Dr. Fryer wanted it that way, up until 2002 (30 years later), he rarely spoke of it even to his closest friends.

Within the A.P.A. was an underground group of closeted psychiatrists going by the name of the "Gay P.A.," a "secret society" of gay men and lesbians working within the association to try and affect change quietly, unlike the protests demanding declassification that occurred at the conventions.

In 1971, Barbara Gittings, an activist and member of the Gay P.A., approached Dr. Fryer with a plan to appeal to the growingly progressive leaders of the A.P.A. by confronting the group with an active gay member of their association. A notion that he vehemently opposed considering the tedious time it took for him to complete his residency. As the year passed and the 1972 convention grew near, Barbara continued to reach out for his cooperation. No one else in the Gay P.A. would do it. She offered to pay his way to the convention and gave him the idea of wearing a disguise.

She planted the seed.

With the aid of Dr. Fryer's drama student lover, they concocted a disguise consisting of an oversized tuxedo, a rubber Nixon mask – melted to distort the features, and a wig to hide his identity.

And so, Dr. Henry Anonymous was born.

It was the second day of the A.P.A. convention, May 2, 1972, when the audience was shocked by the appearance of Dr. Henry Anonymous as he approached the front of the room.

"I am a homosexual; I am a Psychiatrist."

The starting of a ten-minute speech describing the active gay community within the A.P.A. and how they officially did not exist; if they did, they would lose their career, lose their license, and possibly go to jail. He went in detail about how much was risked to lose as a gay psychiatrist and ended his speech by stating

"We are taking an even bigger risk, however, in not living fully our humanity. This is the greatest loss, our honest humanity."

Dr. Anonymous took his seat to a standing ovation, and his speech was the pebble that started the waves of change. Next year in 1973, the A.P.A. announced that it would reverse its stance, stating that homosexuality was not a mental disorder.

And with that, Dr. Henry Anonymous disappeared. He was rarely spoken about for decades.

The A.P.A.'s change and removal of homosexuality as a mental illness opened the door for the evolution of laws, social equality, and economic justice. In short, this change provided us with the lifestyle that we have now. The chance to live our life open and free. A notion that Dr. Fryer never was able to do.

Fifty years ago, Dr. John Fryer took to the stage and delivered a speech that changed the course of the gay rights movement. This action was something he did not share with just anyone. Very few people in his life knew that he was Dr. Anonymous. He lived the rest of his life secluded from the gay community. In 1973, he was fired from a position, his supervisor stating, "If you were gay and not flamboyant, we would keep you; if you were flamboyant and not gay, we would keep you. But since you are both gay and flamboyant, we cannot keep you." He lived his life closeted as much as possible but felt at odds with his homosexuality. To Dr. Fryer, to be openly gay was to lose your power, and he wanted to be powerful.

In 2003, at the age of 65, Dr. John Fryer passed away.

Giving this man the title of an unsung hero is an understatement. The effects that came from his speech are as significant as the effects of the Stonewall Riots.

I found this man through an article shared with me by a co-worker from the New York Times. If it wasn't for this, I might never have heard his speech's words (recording available in the article link posted below), known his story, or shared this information with you.

Please listen to this speech, read the article, and read more about this man's life. Without him, professional, medical, and other licensures would be unavailable to our community, and the hormone, shock, and conversion therapies would be the norm and not the exception.

Thank you.

With love & light,

-Joey