Kameny memorial service set for Nov. 15

Friends and allies of the late gay rights leader Frank Kameny have scheduled a national memorial service to honor his life and accomplishments to be held Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Cannon House Office Building next to the U.S. Capitol.

Organizers said the event will take place at 4:30 p.m. in Room 345, which is the building’s main caucus room. The congressional hosts of the event include D.C. Congressional Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) and the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus members Reps. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and David Cicilline (D-R.I.).

“Friends and allies of Dr. Kameny, and members of the general public, need no invitation to attend this service on Capitol Hill, capacity permitting,” organizers said in a statement. “This spacious and historic venue was made available through the generous support from leaders of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus, allies in LGBT equality and national service.”

Members of Congress and officials with the Obama administration are expected to be among the speakers at the event, said co-organizer Bob Witeck, a longtime friend and colleague of Kameny’s.

Witeck said the event will also commemorate the 50^th anniversary of Kameny’s role as co-founder of the Mattachine Society of Washington, the city’s first gay rights group.