Even then, conservative groups backed the law, saying it had been necessary.
Family Research Council analyst Robert Maginnis told the New York Times that homosexuality was a "behavior that is associated with a lot of anti-security markers such as drug and alcohol abuse, promiscuity and violence."
But Kameny was positive about the end of the order. He said it represented "the next step."
"The government has gone beyond simply ceasing to be a hostile and vicious adversary and has now become an ally," he said.
Last year, lawmakers reintroduced the Lavender Offense Victim Exoneration Act, known as the LOVE Act, which aims to "correct historic injustices" by recognizing and reviewing the dismissals of gay employees from the State Department because of their sexual orientation.
Sources: NBC News, ABC News, New York Times, The Hill