Frank Kameny  1925-2011

A Ph.D astronomer and army veteran, Kameny was fired from his position in the U.S. Army’s Map Service in 1957  because of his homosexuality.  This led him to begin a “Herculean struggle with the American establishment” in defense of civil rights for gay people, filing countless lawsuits on behalf of federal workers who were fired due to their sexuality.  He eventually won multiple court cases forcing the government to change its hiring policies, and pressured the psychiatric establishment to change its position on homosexuality being considered a mental illness.  His advocacy made life better for generations of LGBT workers.

Semipalmated Sandpiper populations have declined by 5% per year since the 1970s. Some surveys indicate a decrease of up to 80% in specific regions.