Lavender Scare

McCarthy Cohn

Lavender Scare

The Lavender Scare refers to a moral panic and the witch hunt targeting homosexuals in the United States government during the mid-20th century. This period of intense scrutiny and persecution paralleled the Red Scare, which focused on rooting out alleged communists from government positions. The Lavender Scare was driven by the belief that homosexuals were security risks and could be blackmailed by communist agents.

Background

The Lavender Scare began in the late 1940s and continued through the 1950s, coinciding with the Cold War and the rise of McCarthyism. During this time, there was widespread fear that the Soviet Union could exploit the perceived weaknesses of homosexuals in the U.S. government. This fear was exacerbated by the belief that homosexuals were morally corrupt and thus more susceptible to communist influence.

Government Actions

In 1950, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that the State Department was harboring communists and "sexual perverts." This led to increased investigations and the establishment of policies to identify and remove homosexuals from government positions. The Executive Order 10450, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953, explicitly banned homosexuals from working in the federal government, citing them as security risks.

Impact

The Lavender Scare resulted in the dismissal of thousands of federal employees. Many individuals were subjected to invasive investigations, forced resignations, and public humiliation. The fear and discrimination extended beyond the federal government, affecting private sector employment and contributing to widespread social stigma against the LGBT community.

Legacy

The Lavender Scare had long-lasting effects on the lives of those targeted and on the broader LGBT rights movement. It wasn't until the 1970s that significant progress was made in reversing discriminatory policies. In 1995, President Bill Clinton signed an executive order that ended the ban on security clearances for homosexuals.

See Also

• Red Scare
• McCarthyism
• LGBT rights in the United States
• Executive Order 10450
• Cold War

Further Reading

• The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government