John E. Fryer

John Ercel Fryer, M.D. 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.