Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker to Dedicate Historic Marker to 'Mother of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement'

On July 26, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker, the first openly LGBT mayor of a major American city, will serve as the keynote speaker for the Barbara Gittings' Residence Historic Marker Dedication ceremony slated for Tuesday, July 26th in Philadelphia, PA. The event will be part of the Equality Forum 2016, held concurrently with the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.�

"As the nation's first openly LGBT mayor of a major American city, former Houston Mayor Annise Parker is the right person to be dedicating this historic marker to the 'Mother of the LGBT civil rights movement'," said Founder and Executive Director Malcolm Lazin of the Equality Forum, the nation's premier lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) civil rights summit.

Known as the "Mother of the LGBT Civil Rights Movement," Barbara Gittings (July 31, 1932 - February 18, 2007) resided in Philadelphia, PA with her partner, Kay Lahusen. She was the editor of the first lesbian publication. With Frank Kameny, she organized the Annual Reminders at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, which launched the LGBT civil rights movement.

Gittings spearheaded the successful initiative to have the American Library Association include gay and lesbian books in the nation's card catalogues and libraries. Kameny and Gittings challenged the American Psychiatric Association, resulting in homosexuality being removed from the list of mental illnesses. The marker will be installed at the former residence of Barbara Gittings and Kay Lahusen, at 21st and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The event will feature Malcolm Lazin, founder and executive director, Equality Forum; plus a special performance by the Anna Crusis Women's Choir, the oldest existing feminist choir in the United States of which Barbara Gittings was a member.

Equality Forum 2016 will bring together prominent, national voices for discussions on the state and future of the LGBT movement, and hold two historic marker dedications and award ceremonies from July 25 - 28, concurrent with the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, PA.

Barbara Gittings' Residence Historic Marker Dedication ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26 at 21st and Locust Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19103.