The Lavender Scare: A Dark Chapter in American History
The Lavender Scare was a period of fear and discrimination against homosexuals in the US government, based on unfounded beliefs that they posed a threat to national security. This unjust persecution led to thousands losing their jobs and facing immense societal stigma. The roots of this scare were deeply ingrained in moral panic, misconceptions about homosexuality, and misguided connections with communism. However, over time, the movement for civil rights shed light on the vibrant LGBTQ+ community in Washington, leading to positive changes in government policies.
Download Presentation
Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.
The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Lavender Scare: The fear that homosexuals posed a threat to national security and needed to be systematically removed from the federal government
Causes Moral corruption Ability to pass undetected among ordinary Americans Fear of the unknown insidious nature
Causes cont. Shared qualities with Communists Supposed mental illness of the homosexual - fragile mind Loquaciousness and alcoholism Alcohol plays an important role in the problem of sexual deviations Time magazine, April 1950 Privacy of the homosexual relationship
The Homintern Homosexuals make up a worldwide network called the Homintern American Mercury journal Confidential tabloid Loss of American culture
Beginnings of the Scare John Peurifoy 91 homosexuals fired from government jobs Senator Kenneth Wherry can you think of a person who could be more dangerous to the U.S.A. than a pervert? McCarthy Homosexuality is the psychological maladjustment that lead people towards communism
Media Sexual issues not discussed directly in newspapers and other media outlets Sexual perverts men of unconventional morality those whose habits are made especially vulnerable to blackmail
Media cont. Security risk umbrella term for the homosexual Moral weaklings Sexual misfits Moral risks Undesirables
Public figures Accusations of public figures -McCarthy -Adlai Stevenson -Chip Bohlen Always secret accusations
Results More gays and lesbians were purged from the federal government than suspected communists In 1995, the government stopped using sexual orientation as grounds to deny employment By then, more than 10,000 gay men and women had been driven from their jobs
Move for Civil Rights Revealed vibrant lesbian and gay subculture in Washington Government s undoing First sustained gay organization in the U.S. (California, 1951) Fostering of bond between the male gay community and the female gay community
