Philly Lesbian Pioneer Barbara Gittings Honored. (Philadelphia, Houston: home, living in, moving)

[Clark Park]

Barbara Gittings, a LGBT rights pioneer, was honored with an official bronze plaque placed in front of her residence near Locust and 21st Streets.

Gittings, who passed away a few years ago, is probably the single most important gay liberation activist to come out of Philadelphia. Her life partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen, is still with us, but in frail health and living in a nursing home. Gittings joined the movement years before the Stonewall Uprising and was extremely involved in many organizations. She edited the first nation-wide Lesbian periodical, The Ladder. Gittings was involved in so many early LGBT rights projects it would be pointless to name them all, but a few of the outstanding ones include:

• Helping organize the first public gay rights demonstration in front of Independence Hall in 1965;
• Involved in fighting censorship with the American Library Association;
• Founder of the first East Coast chapter of The Daughters of Bilitis, the earliest lesbian organization;
• Help get The American Psychiatric Association remove 'homosexuality' from their manual of disorders.

The plaque was unveiled by former Houston mayor Annise Parker, who said she got as far as she did because of Barbara's activism. "I stand on her shoulders" Parker stated.


Did anyone here in City-Data ever meet or know Barbara Gittings?

[kyb01]

Originally Posted by Clark Park

Barbara Gittings, a LGBT rights pioneer, was honored with an official bronze plaque placed in front of her residence near Locust and 21st Streets.

Gittings, who passed away a few years ago, is probably the single most important gay liberation activist to come out of Philadelphia. Her life partner, Kay Tobin Lahusen, is still with us, but in frail health and living in a nursing home. Gittings joined the movement years before the Stonewall Uprising and was extremely involved in many organizations. She edited the first nation-wide Lesbian periodical, The Ladder. Gittings was involved in so many early LGBT rights projects it would be pointless to name them all, but a few of the outstanding ones include:

• Helping organize the first public gay rights demonstration in front of Independence Hall in 1965;
• Involved in fighting censorship with the American Library Association;
• Founder of the first East Coast chapter of The Daughters of Bilitis, the earliest lesbian organization;
• Help get The American Psychiatric Association remove 'homosexuality' from their manual of disorders.

The plaque was unveiled by former Houston mayor Annise Parker, who said she got as far as she did because of Barbara's activism. "I stand on her shoulders" Parker stated.


Did anyone here in City-Data ever meet or know Barbara Gittings?

YES! I met her back in the 80s at a dinner party in UC. Absolutely one of the most charming and, also, unpretentious persons I've ever met. I knew about her activism and I was in awe of her.

[Clark Park]

I heard Barbara speak to large audiences several times. She was dynamic ... a professional, cheerful, upbeat and inspiring speaker. When she died the LGBT community lost a great leader.

[MarketStEl]

Yes, I knew Barbara Gittings.

I met her and her partner Kay Lahusen through a mutual friend, the late P. Alan Bulliner, who was the corporate secretary for Bell Atlantic, later Verizon.

Al Bulliner was one of the first people I met after moving here in 1983 (not counting my ex, who moved me here). Barbara and Kay had come to one of the parties he threw from time to time at his home in the Far Northeast.

They helped me with a survey of gay businesses I conducted for the Philadelphia Gay News.

Some years after that, we all gathered at Al's place - by then in Center City - to watch the coming-out episode of "Ellen" together.

I remember Barbara as having a positive, ebullient personality. Kay was a little more reticent but still gracious.

Barbara Gittings was a lion among women.