John E. Fryer | |
|---|---|
.webp) | |
| Born | November 7, 1937 Winchester, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Died | February 21, 2003 (aged 65) |
| Alma mater | Transylvania University Vanderbilt University |
| Known for | His role in persuading the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders |
| Awards | Distinguished Service Award from the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Psychiatry |
| Institutions | Temple University |
John Ercel Fryer, M.D. (November 7, 1937 – February 21, 2003)[1] was a prominent American psychiatrist and advocate for gay rights. He is most notably remembered for his impactful speech delivered anonymously at the 1972 American Psychiatric Association (APA) annual conference. Fryer addressed the conference under the pseudonym Dr. Henry Anonymous, catalyzing the movement to remove homosexuality as a classified mental illness from the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. In recognition of his significant contributions, the APA established the "John E. Fryer, M.D., Award" in his honor.[2]
- ^ Birth certificate in the John E. Fryer archive at the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Box 38
- ^ Moran, Mark (November 3, 2006) "Activists Forced Psychiatrists To Look Behind Closet Door" Psychiatric News