Frank Kameny Net Worth: How Rich was the Activist Actually?

Franklin Edward Kameny or shortly known as Frank Kameny was an American astronomer and gay rights activist. Frank Kameny net worth at the moment is under review. However, some website estimates his net worth to fall in the range of $1 million to $3 million.

Early Life

Kameny was born on May 21, 1925, in New York City to Ashkenazi Jewish parents. He went to Richmond Hill High School and then to Queens College where he studied physics. He was drafted into the US Army before the completion of his study. He served in the Army during the World War II and after that he returned to Queens College where he graduated finally in 1948.

Kameny then enrolled at Harvard University where he did both master’s degree and doctorate in astronomy.

Frank Kameny Net Worth and Career

In 1957, Kameny became an astronomer with the Army Map Service and took that job because of his astronomy skills. However, he was fired a few months later after he refused to discuss his sexual orientation.

Kameny then sued the US Civil Service Commission for unfair dismission. His legal objections based on his sexual orientation is the first on government record.

In the 1970s, Kameny organized some of the public protests for gay rights in the US. During that period, he challenged the American Psychiatric Association’s classification of homosexuality as a mental disorder. In 1975, the Civil Service Commission finally reversed its ban on LGBTQs employees.

His activism has led to a massive change in the USA’s equal rights policies. In 2009, the US government apologized to Kameny for his firing from the military. President Obama personally thanked him for his contribution to the LGBTQ community.

Other than that, Kameny is also a politician. In 1971, he became the first openly gay candidate to run for the US Congress. He ran in the District of Columbia’s first election for a non-voting Congressional delegate. However, he was defeated by Democrat Walter E. Fauntroy.

Personal Life

Although Kameny had heart disease, he managed to make a public appearance. His last speech to an LGBTQ group was in Washington, D.C on September 30, 2011.

On October 11, 2011, he was found dead in his home. The cause of death was due to arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Frank Kameny Net Worth

The exact net worth of Frank Kameny is difficult to predict. Some websites list his net worth to be in the range of $1 million to $3 million.

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