Former APA president who helped declassify homosexuality as mental illness dead at 94

[alp227]

The San Francisco Chronicle reports: "Alfred Freedman, prominent psychiatrist, dies":

Alfred Freedman, a prominent New York psychiatrist who in 1973, as president of the American Psychiatric Association, played a key role in ending the classification of homosexuality as a mental illness, died April 17 at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

He was 94 and died of complications from surgery to treat a fractured hip.

In April 1972, the Washington Post reported that the 15,000-member American Psychiatric Association had been taken over by "a group of young dissidents" who thought it was the APA's responsibility to speak out on the controversial social issues of the day, including racism, war, and treatment of gay men and lesbians.

[Maven]

1. Thank you, Dr. Freedman.

RIP

[upi402]

2. RIP

APA in the 70's must have been different -wasn't the APA on board with BushCo torturing?

[Withywindle]

3. RIP, Dr. Freedman.

94 is a very good run. He was born the year WWI ended, for historical reference.

Some people seem to think the fight for GLBT humanity started in the last few decades. er, hell no, it's as old as ANY human rights struggle. Thank you, Dr. Freedman, for using your privileged position--at risk to yourself--to advance the truth for more than half a century.

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Rest in Peace

[pansypoo53219]

5. good 'the american life' about this.

worth listening to.

[alp227]

9. "This American Life" link

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/204/81-words

[Mnemosyne]

6. Thank you, Doctor. Rest in peace knowing that what you did mattered so much in

so many lives.

[chollybocker]

7. I turned 11 in 1973, and I can't tell you

how important it was to hear the news of this report. It confirmed for me that I was okay, and helped to dispel many myths and stereotypes. I remember it vividly.

RIP, Dr. Freedman.

[chollybocker]

8. Alright already.

Dupe.

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Kicking a thread that did not get nearly as much attention as it should

have.