Otto Ulrich

Otto lived an openly gay life when to do so could lose you your job, your home, and your friends.

It did lose him his security clearance--but not until he had worked for nearly 8 years without anyone really noticing that he checked homosexual in the medical section (remember, it was still considered a mental illness, then) of his annual update form.  Otto had a gift for languages, which he used in his employment as an indexer of articles and research for the Library of Congress, private companies, and the National Library of Medicine.

With Dr Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings guiding his case, Ulrich challenged the withdrawal of his security clearance.  It took nearly five years for the case to be resolved but Otto did get his clearance back.  His case, Ulrich v. Schlesinger, was combined with 2 other cases and helped in overturning the US Civil Service Commission's "suitability" criterion: defining homosexuals as unsuitable for employment in the federal government.

For a remembrance of Otto Ulrich see Ted Richard's article on GayToday from September 17, 2001.  Otto Ulrich died of cancer on September 12th, 2001.
 
 

Jack Nichols remembers Otto Ulrich: He was erudite, gentle, kindly, hospitable and generous.  I remember him best surrounded by more than a thousand books and musical albums that decorated his home. I marveled at how he'd mastered so many languages, respecting him as a true citizen of the world.  My heart ached for him when his unique talents were once tossed aside by federal bureaucrats after they'd deemed him gay. But I admired his good humor and his pluck as we marched together in 1965 protests, picketing the White House and other U.S. government sites. A pioneering member of the Mattachine Society of Washington he seldom, if ever, missed any of our early meetings. Introducing him to new Mattachine members I always felt proud at being able to explain his capabilities.  Though we were later separated by long miles, we remained in touch. He regularly showed concern for my health, sending me materials by mail about medical research. His untimely passing saddens me because he was a beacon to me in those early years, a caring friend who'd captured  my admiration. Jack Nichols is himself a gay pioneer, a founding member of Mattachine Society of Washington, co-founded and published GAY in New York City, and currently edits and publishes the online gay magazine, GayToday, at gaytoday.badpuppy.com.