Fleischmann, Joan, 1940-

"ECHO was born on January 26, 1962, when four organizations, The Daughters of Bilitis, The Mattachine Society of Washington, The Mattachine Society, Inc. of New York, and the Janus Society met in Philadelphia to investigate the possibility of developing an informal affiliation of homophile groups on the East Coast. At this meeting it was decided that closer communication and cooperation between the groups was desirable. It was also decided that ECHO should sponsor a yearly public conference.

"ECHO affiliation [was] limited to formally organized groups operating east of the Mississippi River, whose main purpose [was] working toward the improvement of the status of the homosexual by lawful means. Each group [had to] be able to financially support the conference and [had to] be able to send three delegates (two 'speaking' and one 'silent') to monthly meetings.

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