Inside the shameful history of the 'Lavender Scare,' when the US government embarked on an anti-gay witch hunt and purged thousands of employees

James PasleyMay 27, 2023, 01:13 IST

Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

In the 1950s, the US government launched a campaign focused on finding and purging gay government employees.
It was prompted due to a misguided idea that gay people were vulnerable to blackmail and considered easy targets for Russia.

"It was a witch hunt," former Navy Lieutenant Joan Cassidy described the decades-long government campaign which later became now known as the "Lavender Scare."

Cassidy was one of up to 10,000 government employees who were fired because of their sexuality in the 1950s and 60s. During the Cold War paranoia of the late 1940s and 50s, the US government famously led a witch hunt targeting communists leading to a hysteria dubbed the "Red Scare."

The hysteria was later followed by a second government campaign prompted by discrimination against gay people in the federal government, which similarly became known as the "Lavender Scare."

The focus of the Lavender Scare was finding and purging gay government employees. According to the National Archives, its impact was actually greater and longer lasting than the Red Scare.

Two women photographed on a stoop of a house in the US in the 1950s.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

The focus of the Lavender Scare was finding and purging gay government employees. According to the National Archives, its impact was actually greater and longer lasting than the Red Scare.

Lavender is a color often associated with the queer community. Back then, certain newspapers and politicians, including Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen, called gay men "lavender lads."

Sen. Everett M. Dirsen, a Republican from Illinois.Bettmann/Getty Images

Lavender is a color often associated with the queer community. Back then, certain newspapers and politicians, including Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen, called gay men "lavender lads."

The campaign began in the late 1940s. As the public's general awareness of homosexuality increased, discrimination against the community was on the rise, including within the US government.

A gay man is escorted by law enforcement after being arrested.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

The campaign began in the late 1940s. As the public's general awareness of homosexuality increased, discrimination against the community was on the rise, including within the US government.

In 1950, GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to possess a list of 205 communists working for the government. Less than a fortnight later, he went further and outlined a number of cases, including two who he said were also homosexual.

Senator Joseph McCarthy in 1950.Bettmann/Getty Images

In 1950, GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to possess a list of 205 communists working for the government. Less than a fortnight later, he went further and outlined a number of cases, including two who he said were also homosexual.

But that didn't matter. When Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy told the Senate a week later that 91 homosexual employees had already been fired, the damage was done.

Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy in 1954, when he was US ambassador to Thailand.Bettmann/Getty Images

But that didn't matter. When Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy told the Senate a week later that 91 homosexual employees had already been fired, the damage was done.

In 1953, then-newly-elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower continued the trend when he described gay people as a threat to the country's security.

Major-General Dwight Eisenhower (1890 - 1969), commander of the American Forces in the European theatre of war, at the time of his promotion, by President Roosevelt, to Lieutenant General.M. McNeill/Getty Images

Former Navy Lieutenant Joan Cassidy, who was fired because of her sexuality, spoke about her experiences in the documentary "The Lavender Scare."

Joan Cassidy discusses her experiences during the anti-gay witch hunts with Josh Howard during filming for “The Lavender Scare.”PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

About 2,200 women and men were documented as having lost their jobs due to the Lavender Scare. But David K. Johnson, a history professor at the University of South Florida, estimated that the number was as high as 10,000.

A headline describing government employees being fired due to their sexuality.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

About 2,200 women and men were documented as having lost their jobs due to the Lavender Scare. But David K. Johnson, a history professor at the University of South Florida, estimated that the number was as high as 10,000.

A key difference between the Lavender Scare and the Red Scare was that in this campaign, no one was named — meaning there were no famous Hollywood directors to tie to the cause.

Hollywood writers and producers were summoned to a hearing about their ties to communism in 1947.G.B. Kress/Getty Images

A key difference between the Lavender Scare and the Red Scare was that in this campaign, no one was named — meaning there were no famous Hollywood directors to tie to the cause.

In 1957, astronomer Frank Kameny was fired by the Army Map Service for his sexuality. He'd been job working on a classified missile project. After his dismissal, he became one of the key figures who fought the discrimination.

Kay Tobin Lahusen's photo of Frank Kameny in the first LGBT Pride March.New York Public Library Digital Collections

In 1957, astronomer Frank Kameny was fired by the Army Map Service for his sexuality. He'd been job working on a classified missile project. After his dismissal, he became one of the key figures who fought the discrimination.

In 1965, Kameny led a protest of 10 people outside the White House. The protest was against systematic discrimination but was triggered by reports that gay people were being forced into labor camps in Cuba.

People demonstrated in a picket outside the White House in 1965.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

In 1965, Kameny led a protest of 10 people outside the White House. The protest was against systematic discrimination but was triggered by reports that gay people were being forced into labor camps in Cuba.

Despite Kameny's hard work, it wasn't for another decade until the ban against gay people working for the government was lifted in 1975.

Frank Kameny leads a picket line in front of Independence Hall in Philadelphia on July 4, 1965.PBS/The Lavender Scare/Supplied

Gay government employees continued to be fired from the State Department until the 1990s due to security concerns. In 1995, President Bill Clinton explicitly ended the order.

Clinton denies having an affair with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky.Diana Walker/Getty Images

Gay government employees continued to be fired from the State Department until the 1990s due to security concerns. In 1995, President Bill Clinton explicitly ended the order.

On the 70th anniversary of the Lavender Scare, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation to acknowledge the harmful impact of the campaign.

President Joe Biden speaks about his administration's plans to protect Social Security and Medicare and lower healthcare costs at the University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., on February 9, 2023.AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

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Inside the shameful history of the 'Lavender Scare,' when the US government embarked on an anti-gay witch hunt and purged thousands of employees

The focus of the Lavender Scare was finding and purging gay government employees. According to the National Archives, its impact was actually greater and longer lasting than the Red Scare.

Lavender is a color often associated with the queer community. Back then, certain newspapers and politicians, including Republican Sen. Everett Dirksen, called gay men "lavender lads."

The campaign began in the late 1940s. As the public's general awareness of homosexuality increased, discrimination against the community was on the rise, including within the US government.

In 1950, GOP Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin claimed to possess a list of 205 communists working for the government. Less than a fortnight later, he went further and outlined a number of cases, including two who he said were also homosexual.

But that didn't matter. When Deputy Undersecretary of State John Peurifoy told the Senate a week later that 91 homosexual employees had already been fired, the damage was done.

In 1953, then-newly-elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower continued the trend when he described gay people as a threat to the country's security.

Former Navy Lieutenant Joan Cassidy, who was fired because of her sexuality, spoke about her experiences in the documentary "The Lavender Scare."

About 2,200 women and men were documented as having lost their jobs due to the Lavender Scare. But David K. Johnson, a history professor at the University of South Florida, estimated that the number was as high as 10,000.

A key difference between the Lavender Scare and the Red Scare was that in this campaign, no one was named — meaning there were no famous Hollywood directors to tie to the cause.

In 1957, astronomer Frank Kameny was fired by the Army Map Service for his sexuality. He'd been job working on a classified missile project. After his dismissal, he became one of the key figures who fought the discrimination.

In 1965, Kameny led a protest of 10 people outside the White House. The protest was against systematic discrimination but was triggered by reports that gay people were being forced into labor camps in Cuba.

Despite Kameny's hard work, it wasn't for another decade until the ban against gay people working for the government was lifted in 1975.

Gay government employees continued to be fired from the State Department until the 1990s due to security concerns. In 1995, President Bill Clinton explicitly ended the order.

On the 70th anniversary of the Lavender Scare, President Biden issued a presidential proclamation to acknowledge the harmful impact of the campaign.