Rob Frydlewicz: Gay Activists Meet in White House for 1st Time, March 26, 1977

In the spring of 1965 a small group of gay protesters (organized by the Mattachine Society's Frank Kameny) picketed in front of the White House - a first.

And in 1977, on March 26, more history was made when a group of 14 community leaders was invited for the first time to meet inside the White House.

At this meeting the leaders aired their grievances over various forms of discrimination practiced by the federal government. The group met with the director of President Carter's Office of Public Liaison.

Other gay issues were also gaining national attention in 1977 thanks to Harvey Milk's election to San Franciso's board of supervisors; Anita Bryant's spearheading of an anti-gay ballot initiative in Florida; and actor Billy Crystal's portrayal as TV's first recurring gay character on ABC's sitcom Soap.

Then in June 1995 the Clinton administration created the post of White House liaison to the gay and lesbian community. Two years later Bill Clinton became the first president to speak before a gay and lesbian organization when he delivered the keynote address at the Human Rights Campaign Dinner.

And just a few weeks ago the White House named Jeremy Bernard (pictured, left) as the first openly gay Social Sectretary for the White House. Presently, there are more than 150 openly gay and lesbian staffers working in the Obama administration, one-third of whom are in senior or director-level positions.

For more posts like this, Rob also has a blog called ZeitGayst

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