FX Series ’81 Words’ will Tell the Story of Frank Kameny

The creator of Pose, Steven Canals, is reaching beyond ballroom to tell the story of another moment in queer rights history. The new FX series will tell the story of Frank Kameny and other major gay rights activists of the time.

The title, 81 Words, was adopted from an episode of the popular radio show This American Life. This episode originally aired on January 18, 2002, and was narrated by Alix Spiegel.

The official synopsis for the new FX series reads as follows:

“Until 1974, the medical establishment considered gay people sexually deviant and diagnosed them as mentally ill. 81 words tells the true story of gay activists Frank Kameny and Barbara Grittings, who risked their careers and reputation to conspire with the GAYPA—a clandestine group of closeted psychiatrists—and challenge the American Psychiatric Association’s definition of homosexuality.”

In 1957, Kameny was dismissed from his job as an astronomer in the U.S. Army’s Army Map Service in Washington, D.C. because of his sexual orientation. This lead him to spearhead the American queer liberation movement and consequentially be referred to as “one of the most significant figures” in the American gay rights movement.

Kameny formally appealed his firing by the U.S. Civil Service Commission due to homosexuality. Although unsuccessful, the proceeding was notable as the first known civil rights claim based on sexual orientation pursued in a U.S. court.

Frank Kameny’s story was also featured in last month’s best selling book, The Deviants War, by Dr. Eric Cervini. The best-seller traces the origins of the Sexual Revolution back to the wrongful termination of government employee and founding member of the Mattachine Society, Frank Kameny.  His firing and prolonged fight for queer rights predates the Stonewall Riots of 1969 which are often thought of as the origin of the queer liberation movement in America.

Steven Canals is set to write and serve as executive producer for 81 words. Meanwhile his other FX series, Pose is currently one of many shows that have been put on pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.