John E. Fryer, MD (1937-2003)

Dr. Fryer graduated from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1962, and following his internship at Ohio State and residencies at the Menninger Foundation and the University of Pennsylvania, joined the psychiatry faculty at Philadelphia’s Temple University.

He gave a speech before the annual conference of the American Psychiatric Association in 1972 that played a key role in persuading the APA to remove homosexuality as a diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Because in 1972 being gay was still classified as a mental illness, Dr. Fryer, despite the fact that he was speaking to a meeting of professional colleagues, made the speech anonymously, with his voice altered and wearing a disguise.

The following year, the APA removed homosexuality as a diagnosis from its manual.

In recognition of his courage and integrity, the APA established the John E. Fryer, M.D. Award in his honor. The award is given to honor a person whose work has contributed to the mental health of sexual minorities. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission placed a historical marker in his honor, and his longtime home is listed in the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

In 2002 he received a Distinguished Alumnus award from Vanderbilt University in recognition of his career and service.