John E. Fryer
John E. Fryer (November 7, 1937 – February 21, 2003) was an American psychiatrist and gay rights activist best known for his anonymous speech at the 1972 American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual conference where he appeared in disguise and under the name Dr. H. Anonymous. This event significantly influenced the APA's decision to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
Early life and education[edit | edit source]
Fryer was born in Kentucky and raised in a conservative Christian family. He attended Transylvania University for his undergraduate studies and later earned his medical degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania.
Career[edit | edit source]
Fryer held faculty positions at several institutions, including the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University. He was also a staff psychiatrist at Philadelphia's Friends Hospital and the director of the Department of Psychiatry at the Philadelphia General Hospital.
Activism[edit | edit source]
Fryer's most notable contribution to the gay rights movement was his speech at the 1972 APA conference. At the time, homosexuality was classified as a mental disorder in the DSM. Fryer, who was gay himself, appeared in disguise to protect his identity and career. His speech, in which he described the discrimination and bias faced by gay psychiatrists, was a pivotal moment in the movement to declassify homosexuality as a mental disorder.
Legacy[edit | edit source]
Fryer's activism had a profound impact on the field of psychiatry and the broader gay rights movement. In recognition of his contributions, the APA established the John E. Fryer Award in 2002. This award is given annually to an individual who has contributed to improving the mental health of sexual minorities.
See also[edit | edit source]
- History of homosexuality in American film
- Homosexuality and psychology
- LGBT rights in the United States
References[edit | edit source]
.svg){kind=icon}
This article is a psychiatry-related stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it!
John E. Fryer
John E. Fryer
John E. Fryer MD Historical Marker
.webp)
.jpg)
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
