Last night, two of the nation's first gay-rights activists reflected on their struggle for equality in the city where their protests began.
The screening of the PBS documentary Gay Pioneers -- followed by a discussion led by activists Barbara Gittings and Frank Kameny -- launched QPenn, a series of events over the next two weeks concerning sexuality.
The documentary featured a series of annual picketing demonstrations from 1965 to 1969. Gittings and Kameny, along with many other activists, demanded equal rights for gays. The demonstrations all occurred in front of Philadelphia's Independence Hall on July 4.
The protests were considered radical by both nonmembers and members of the gay community at that time.
"Culturally things were very different," Kameny said. "We were on the forefront of expressing dissent. People in our movement felt that only trash picketed."
In order to appease public opinion, Gittings created a series of strict regulations for picketing participants.
"We established regulations that were right for the time," Gittings said. These regulations included conservative and conventional dress, minimal speech and clearly printed signs.
The annual pickets acted as a precursor to the first Gay Pride Parade known as the "March on Stonewall" in New York City in 1969.
Issues surrounding the gay community as well as the activists' personal stories were discussed after the conclusion of the documentary. Gay marriage, the military's "Don't ask, don't tell" policy and diversity within the gay rights movement were highlighted.
Both the discussion and film received positive reviews from audience members.
"We had a living piece of history with us tonight" Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center Program Coordinator Ninah Harris said. "They are definitely role models."
Harris explained that both Kameny and Gittings demonstrated that fighting for gay rights is a life-long commitment.
"We [need] to look back at history [in order] to learn how we got to the point we are now," Wharton junior and Queer Student Alliance co-Chairman Brett Thalmann said. "It was a great kick-off event. I was really inspired."
Despite the good reviews, some students criticized the lack of student attendance.
"There was a depressing turnout" Wharton junior Jimmy Fanelly said.
Kameny remained positive about current and future gay activism.
"Today we see dedicated gay young people and sympathizers working for equality," Kameny said.
