Diana Davies. Gay Liberation Front meeting at Washington Square Methodist Church, 1970.

As part of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, the Library is gathering together eight members of the Gay Liberation Front (GLF), the pioneering activist group that began in just weeks after the July 1969. It was not only the first organization to use the word "gay" in its title, it also declared its solidarity with other liberation movements against racism, militarism, and sexism.Though it last only until 1972, it had a major influence on the many gay civil rights organizations that followed. The panel will include Perry Brass, Steven F.Dansky, Jim Fouratt, Michela Griffo, Jerry Hoose, Karla Jay, Ellen Shumsky, and Allen Young. Each panelist will speak about a different aspect of the GLF, its history, and influence. Moderator, Jason Baumann, will lead the panelists in a discussion, after which the audience will have the opportunity pose questions.Wednesday, June 24, 2009 at 6p.m., at the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building South Court Auditorium, Fifth Avenue and West 42nd Street, 917 ASK-NYPL (917-275-6975).