Gay Is Good: Illuminating Queer History in Physics Through Frank Kameny's Legacy

When we discuss those who shaped physics, "queerness" rarely comes into play. Since physics is a predominantly White, straight, non-disabled field, its history often neglects those who do not fit into this demographic. Yet, in a time when civil rights are increasingly under attack and over a fifth of LGBTQ+ physicists have experienced discrimination in their workplace—almost 50% for transgender individuals—bringing to light and elevating the rich history of marginalized physicists is paramount. One of these individuals is Frank Kameny, who is known as the "grandfather" of the gay rights movement. Despite Kameny's renown within the movement, his work in astronomy is relatively unknown. As an astronomer, he worked with influential figures such as Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin and Bart Bok, studied photoelectric photometry, and held prestigious jobs before the federal government fired him and stripped him of his security clearance, preventing him from holding any meaningful astrophysics jobs in the future. By spotlighting his story and his scientific prowess, I aim to highlight an accomplished scientist who was denied the opportunity to leave a lasting mark in his field.