A History of LGBTQ+ Health In Photographs
When we envision the future of LGBTQ+ health, its important to reflect on the history that brought us here. Generations in Philadelphia and beyond laid the groundwork for LGBTQ+ rights today, though their stories often go untold.
In local archives like the William Way Community Center and the University of Pennsylvania, we uncovered remarkable photographs of LGBTQ+ communities that came before us. While many stories remain to be found, and the history is far from complete, these images offer glimpses into our shared journey—one of progress, protest, and community.
This collection of photos honors those who paved the way and inspires us to carry their legacy forward. We invite you to reflect on where we have been, envision where we are headed, and join us in shaping the future of LGBTQ+ health equity.
Hover over each image for a description of the events.
The Annual Reminders were a series of early pickets organized by a group of gay organizations, held yearly from 1965 through 1969. The Reminders took place each July 4th at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and were among the earliest LGBT demonstrations in the United States. Photo by Nancy Tucker on July 4, 1969. Courtesy of Lesbian Herstory Archives.
John Ercel Fryer, M.D., a psychiatrist and gay rights activist from Philadelphia, made history at the 1972 American Psychiatric Association Conference. Disguised and using the pseudonym “Dr. Henry Anonymous,” Fryer delivered a courageous speech challenging the classification of homosexuality as a mental illness. Risking his career and medical license, he declared, “I am a homosexual. I am a psychiatrist.” His bold statement became a turning point, paving the way for homosexuality to be removed from the DSM as a mental illness just two years later.
Gay rights leaders Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny at the “Gay, Proud, and Healthy” booth during the American Psychiatric Association meeting in Dallas, TX. Gittings, known as the “mother of the gay rights movement” would travel to medical conferences across the country with this controversial display, challenging stigma and advocating for LGBTQ+ inclusion in the medical community. Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1964-2001. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Philadelphia’s first Gay Pride Parade on June 11, 1972. Photograph by Kay Tobin Lahusen. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Photos of the crowd and their signs at the Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade in 1972. Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1964-2001. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Photos of the crowd and their signs at the Philadelphia Gay Pride Parade in 1972. Barbara Gittings and Kay Tobin Lahusen collection, 1964-2001. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Tommi Avicolli Mecca (left) and Rick Nale (right) standing joyfully with a banner reading "Radical Queens" at the 1973 Philadelphia Pride March at Independence Mall. Mecca was a well-known gay rights activist and poet from Philadelphia. Jo Hoffman Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Queer men pictured together at the Gay Community Center in Philadelphia. Tommi Avicolli Mecca is pictured on the far right. Jo Hoffman Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Queer women pictured dancing at an unknown bar in Philadelphia. Date unknown. Jo Hoffman Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Joyful drag show in Philadelphia. Exact date and location unknown. Photographs by Harry Eberlin. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Joyful drag shows in Philadelphia. Exact dates and locations unknown. Photographs by Harry Eberlin. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
The Gay Switchboard of Philadelphia was a confidential hotline for the queer community founded in 1972. It offered callers insider recommendations on gay-friendly bars, medical providers and religious groups until disbanding in 1998. Photo by Harry Eberlin. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
A billboard in Philadelphia urging gay people to vote, circa 1979. The billboard was created by renowned Philadelphia gay bar, EQUUS, in partnership with the Walt Whitman Democratic Club. In 1980, the Club helped to elect 31 openly gay committeepersons to the Democratic City Committee. Tommi Avicolli Mecca Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
University of Pennsylvania students gather on campus and hold signs at the March Against Homophobia on March 5th, 1986. Tommi Avicolli Mecca Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
LGBTQ+ students at the University of Pennsylvania hang out on the green together. Circa 1986. Tommi Avicolli Mecca Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Lesbians and Gays at University of Pennsylvania (LGAP) organization visits the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights, October 1987. This March was the largest representation of Lesbian and Gay people historically at the time. Courtesy of University of Pennsylvania Archives.
In 1998, Kuromiya protested Rite Aid’s refusal to carry lifesaving AIDS medication. A lifelong advocate, he was a member of ACT UP, launched Philly’s first gay newspaper, and sued the U.S. government to defend the distribution of AIDS information. AIDS Library Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
Outraged by the government’s mismanagement of the AIDS crisis, concerned individuals united to form the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP). Their first demonstration in 1987 took place on Wall Street to protest the profiteering of pharmaceutical companies. Seventeen people were arrested. Shortly after the demonstration, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it will shorten its drug approval process by two years. AIDS Library Photographs Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.
A vibrant moment during the ACT UP demonstration in New York City, 1987. AIDS Library Photographs Collection. Courtesy of John J. Wilcox Jr. Archives, William Way LGBT Community Center.