The lavender scare

Summary

"The Lavender Scare" reveals the dark period during the 1950s when the U.S. government systematically targeted and purged homosexual employees, rooted in fear and stigma. Directed by Josh Howard, this documentary sheds light on an often overlooked chapter in history that parallels the infamous Red Scare. Despite facing widespread discrimination and societal rejection, brave individuals like Frank Kameny stood up against the unjust treatment, becoming pioneers in the fight for gay rights. This period also highlights the dire consequences of such policies, including careers cut short and lives lost. Yet, even in the shadow of fear, the seeds of the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement were sown.

Highlights

• Frank Kameny, often called the 'grandfather of the gay rights movement,' took a stand in a fearful and repressive era. 🌈
• Homosexuality was wrongly perceived as a national security risk, leading to the Lavender Scare, an extensive purge predicated on fear. 🇺🇸
• Many gay employees faced wrongful termination, societal rejection, and personal tragedies, showcasing the dark side of the 1950s. 💔
• The fightback led by Kameny and others set the stage for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement through advocacy and pickets. 🛑
• Historical context teaches the importance of continued vigilance and action for equality, celebrating hard-won progress and sacrifices. 💪

Key Takeaways

• The Lavender Scare was a government-led purge against homosexuals in the 1950s, similar to the Red Scare against Communists. 🕵️‍♂️
• Executive Order by President Eisenhower in 1953 facilitated the removal of homosexuals from federal jobs. 📜
• Frank Kameny emerged as a key figure, challenging discriminatory policies and advocating for civil rights. 🏳️‍🌈
• Despite severe discrimination, no gay individuals apprehended compromised national security. 🚫
• The movement paved the way for future civil rights advancements in the LGBTQ+ community. 📈

Overview

In the bustling heart of 1950s America, the Lavender Scare emerged as an official crusade against gay government employees—fueled by fear and the sociopolitical climate of the Cold War. Newly elected President Dwight D. Eisenhower's executive order validated the baseless belief that homosexuals presented a security risk, mirroring the anti-communist sentiments of the Red Scare. This witch hunt led to thousands of job losses and stigmatized countless lives.

At its heart, the movement birthed unexpected heroes like Frank Kameny, a federal employee turned activist, whose efforts laid the groundwork for the modern struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. Kameny stood firm against the tide of discrimination, refusing to remain silent despite societal and governmental opposition. His audacious actions, from organizing protests in front of the White House to challenging the conservative norms, underscored the relentless pursuit of justice and equality.

This daunting chapter not only marks a significant episode in LGBTQ+ history but underscores a timeless lesson on civil rights. Each victory, led by courageous individuals who dared to defy the status quo, not only reshaped societal perceptions but forged a path of hope and resilience. The Lavender Scare reminds us of the cost of freedom and the enduring need to protect and celebrate diversity within our communities.

Chapters

• 00:00 - 00:30: Introduction to Frank Kameny The chapter introduces Frank Kameny, a pivotal figure in the gay rights movement, often regarded as its grandfather. It highlights his courageous stance during a period when expressing one's identity was fraught with fear and danger, emphasizing his role in bringing gay rights issues into public visibility. His impact is underscored by current events such as the Capitol pride march, where marchers acknowledge his contributions. A new documentary shedding light on his life and legacy is also mentioned.
• 00:30 - 01:00: Government Techniques During the Lavender Scare This chapter discusses government techniques during the Lavender Scare, highlighting how individuals were pressured to inform on others. The interview on July 3rd, 1953, exemplifies this strategy where one person was used to reveal information about others. This was similar to the tactics seen during the Red Scare of the 1950s, led by Senator Joseph McCarthy, emphasizing fears that communists had infiltrated the federal government.
• 01:00 - 01:30: Understanding the Lavender Scare The chapter titled 'Understanding the Lavender Scare' delves into the widespread purge of gay employees during the Cold War, which persisted long beyond Joseph McCarthy's influence. This fear, known as the 'Lavender Scare,' was driven by the belief that homosexuals were vulnerable to blackmail and therefore unsuitable for handling sensitive government information. Historian David K Johnson provides an authoritative account of this period, emphasizing how fear of homosexuality became a significant aspect of the broader anti-communist sentiment of the time.
• 01:30 - 02:00: President Eisenhower's Executive Order The chapter discusses the political culture of fear regarding gay people being perceived as a threat to national security in the 1950s. It especially focuses on the notion that homosexuals had infiltrated the federal government and needed to be removed from government service. This idea was institutionalized with an executive order signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. Eisenhower, who had experienced real threats as a Supreme Allied Commander, took this step as part of his policy agenda.
• 02:00 - 02:30: Documentary and Public Silence The chapter titled 'Documentary and Public Silence' discusses the nuances of public perception and political expediency during times of perceived threats, referencing World War Two as a historical context. The text highlights how politically motivated actions, such as cleaning up political environments, were sometimes carried out under the guise of addressing threats that might not have been immediately apparent as real dangers. Additionally, the chapter introduces a new documentary by Josh Howard, formerly of CBS News, which is set to premiere on PBS. This documentary focuses on the 'lavender scare,' highlighting previously under-addressed historical events.
• 02:30 - 03:00: Personal Account: Bob Can Tilian This chapter delves into the lesser-known historical event, 'The Lavender Scare,' highlighting the clandestine nature of the period. Individuals who lost their jobs during this time often kept the reasons private from even their closest associates, driven by the intense social stigma. A revelation of homosexuality could lead to societal ostracization and professional ruin, reflecting the pervasive fear that forced many to remain closeted during the 1950s.
• 03:00 - 03:30: The Consequences of Exposure The chapter explores the risks faced by gay people during a time of heavy investigation and societal stigma. It shares the story of Bob Cantilian, a navy serviceman, who was summoned by the police for interrogation after attending a Christmas party that was reported to the authorities for hosting gay individuals. Bob openly admitted his sexual orientation during the questioning and faced pressure to disclose the names of other gay individuals he knew, highlighting the intense scrutiny and danger of exposure during that era.
• 03:30 - 04:00: The Impact on Careers and Lives This chapter explores the personal reflections and experiences of individuals during a period where naming others was a requirement for self-preservation. The narrator describes a moment of deep contemplation, forced to choose five individuals whose lives would supposedly be least affected by this act. This decision was made under pressure, with the hope of being released after complying. The chapter further touches on issues of justice and due process, highlighting that legal counsel was not permitted, leaving individuals without legal recourse during these proceedings.
• 04:00 - 04:30: The Case of Drew Ference The chapter titled 'The Case of Drew Ference' explores issues related to the coercion and forced confessions of individuals, particularly targeting gay people. It describes how individuals were blackmailed by being threatened that their families would be informed about their sexual orientation, leading many to quietly resign. An estimate provided suggests that between five and ten thousand people were either fired or resigned under these circumstances, with the exact number remaining unknown.
• 04:30 - 05:00: Lack of Defense for Gay People The chapter discusses the challenges faced by gay people in pursuing their dreams due to the fear of exposure and societal discrimination. It highlights the story of Navy captain Joan Cassidy, who came from a family of veterans and had the potential to become the first female Admiral. However, due to her sexual orientation and the fear that she might not be able to hide it, she decided to forgo the opportunity to advance her career. This reflects the broader issue of lack of defense and support for gay individuals in various professional fields.
• 05:00 - 05:30: Frank Kameny's Fight for Civil Rights Frank Kameny's relentless fight for civil rights, particularly focusing on LGBTQ+ rights, wasn't just his personal battle but a symbol of larger societal issues. The chapter discusses the grave consequences faced by individuals during this period, exemplified by the tragic story of Drew Ference. Ference, a polyglot and son of immigrants, was a promising individual working for the US Embassy in Paris. However, upon being confronted by investigators with evidence of his sexual orientation, he tragically took his own life. His story was not unique as numerous reports highlighted the plight of young men who faced similar fates due to their sexual orientation and the persecution they encountered.
• 05:30 - 06:00: Early Gay Rights Activism The chapter titled 'Early Gay Rights Activism' delves into the challenges faced by homosexual employees in Washington, leading to suicides and a lack of defense from political entities like the Democrats. During this period, even organizations like the ACLU considered it legitimate for the government to dismiss homosexuals, viewing them as a national security threat. This widespread persecution catalyzed the gay rights movement, spearheaded by the determined Frank Kameny.
• 06:00 - 06:30: Jaimie Shoemaker's Experience The chapter focuses on Jaimie Shoemaker, an individual with a PhD from Harvard who worked as an astronomer for the US Army map service. In 1957, Shoemaker was dismissed from his position due to his sexual orientation. Notably, he was one of the first individuals to challenge such a dismissal at the time when many people were similarly dismissed during the 1950s. Shoemaker emphasized that his fight was not about national security or morality, but rather a matter of civil rights.
• 06:30 - 07:00: End of Eisenhower's Executive Order This chapter details the efforts and advocacy of a pioneering individual in the LGBTQ+ community during the 1960s. He identified as a homosexual American citizen, emphasizing the importance of both aspects of his identity. In 1963, he made history as the first openly gay person to testify on Capitol Hill. By 1965, he was actively organizing picket lines in front of the State Department and the White House, asserting the belief that every American citizen deserves to be considered by their government based on their merit.
• 07:00 - 07:30: Frank Kameny's Legacy The chapter explores the legacy of Frank Kameny, highlighting the bravery and courage of individuals who ventured into unfamiliar territories despite the looming fear. Though their efforts faced immense challenges, notably a continuation of discriminatory policies through 1980, examples such as Jaimie Shoemaker, a linguist at the National Security Agency requiring high-level security clearance, are mentioned to illustrate the ongoing struggle and need for meritocracy in such environments.
• 07:30 - 08:00: Lessons from the Past In this chapter, the speaker recounts an experience where his supervisor informed him that security wanted to question him. He was confronted with the assertion that he was leading a gay lifestyle, to which he responded affirmatively. As a consequence, his badge was taken away, and his rights were read to him. He then reached out to Frank Kameny, who criticized him for allowing the situation to escalate.

The lavender scare Transcription

• 00:00 - 00:30 [Applause] marchers at yesterday's Capitol pride march in Washington Oh much to one man you might call the grandfather of the gay rights movement Frank Kameny stepped out into the open in a fearful time when most gay people lived in the shadows as a new documentary in theaters this weekend makes clear so there's a list of State Department employees one of them Paul Gere he worked in Rome confessed
• 00:30 - 01:00 July 3rd 1953 additional interview scheduled for purposes of developing information concerning others they wanted Paul to tell about other people that was the technique that was used by the government grab one person and then get that person to inform on other people you may have heard of the Red Scare of the 1950's the fear stoked by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy the communists had infested the federal government but a panic of a different
• 01:00 - 01:30 shade homosexual must not be handling top secret material led to a much wider purge of gay employees that long outlasted McCarthy's tenure the pervert is easy prey to the blackmailer David K Johnson is the author of the definitive history of what's come to be known as the lavender scare what is the lavender scare I describe it as a fear right a fear that had permeated Cold War
• 01:30 - 02:00 political culture this fear that that gay people were a threat to national security that they had infiltrated the federal government and that they needed to be systematically removed from government service the routing out of homosexual employees became official policy with an executive order signed by newly elected president dwight d Eisenhower in 1953 this is a guy who understood firsthand a real threat I mean he's a supreme Allied commander in
• 02:00 - 02:30 World War two so you would think he would understand a real threat well I think he did I think he probably didn't see this as a real threat but he saw that it did want elections that was expedient politically it was part of their campaigning right let's clean house let's get rid of all these people Josh Howard formerly of CBS News has produced and directed a new documentary soon to air on PBS about the lavender scare he says there's a good
• 02:30 - 03:00 reason you probably don't know about this chapter in history the lavender scare happened in private the people who are being fired didn't want to tell their closest friends and relatives why they had been fired because they wanted to stay in the closet if you were found out to be gay in those years your life was essentially over you were shunned by society you were shunned in the workplace it'sit's the reason people were in the closet in the 1950s even in
• 03:00 - 03:30 private homes gay people were not safe from investigators at Christmastime some friends were having a party somebody must have tipped them off that there was a party where gay people were going to be Bob can Tilian a navy servicemen was told to report to the police station for interrogation I freely admitted that I was gay and then they said we also want the hive names of other people you know
• 03:30 - 04:00 so I searched my mind and I gave them the names of five people I thought would be least hurt my impression was that after I name the five names they'd let me go and nothing else would happen after that but and we were all discharged was there any due process I mean could you call a lawyer you could not bring in an attorney no wasn't allowed you were
• 04:00 - 04:30 just forced to answer yes or now to confess or write the security officials boasted that that gay people very easily confessed and told the truth what they don't talk about is the fact that they essentially blackmailed people they threatened to tell their families so a lot of gay people quietly resigned Johnson estimates that between five and ten thousand people were fired or resigned and we'll never know how many
• 04:30 - 05:00 didn't pursue their dreams for fear of exposure Navy captain Joan Cassidy came from a family of proud veterans she had a shot at becoming the first female Admiral I couldn't do it I just couldn't do it was too big a chance to take and so I had to give up the possibility of Admiral because I was gay and because I wasn't sure I could hide
• 05:00 - 05:30 it well enough other stories ended in the worst possible way drew Ference the son of immigrants spoke five languages and was serving in the US Embassy in Paris when investigators confronted him with evidence that he was gay shortly after confessing he killed himself he wasn't the only one and I saw lots of news reports newspaper reports of you know single young men government
• 05:30 - 06:00 employees who committed suicide in Washington for no apparent reason no one was defending gay people the Democrats stayed away from this issue at the time the ACLU believed it was perfectly legitimate for the government to fire homosexuals as a threat to national senior this is the ACLU the ACLU the persecution of homosexual public servants gave rise to the gay rights movement in the pugnacious person of Frank Kameny Kameny
• 06:00 - 06:30 a PhD from Harvard and an astronomer with the US Army map service was fired in 1957 for being gay so the best of my knowledge and belief I was the first person to fight back out of all of those large a huge number of people that were fired in the fifties he says that this issue is it's not about national security it's not even about morality it's about civil rights and he creates
• 06:30 - 07:00 this new rhetoric he calls himself and his his colleagues in the group homosexual American citizens and that you can't forget either part of that in 1963 he became the first openly gay person to testify on Capitol Hill then in 1965 he organized picket lines in front of the State Department and the White House every American citizen has the right to be considered by his government on the basis of his own
• 07:00 - 07:30 personal merit as an individual those folks were very courageous it had never been done before and they were scared to death but the discriminatory policy continued in 1980 Jaimie shoemaker worked for the National Security Agency as a linguist what kind of a security clearance does your job require very high si probably more than the president has actually you might be surprised one
• 07:30 - 08:00 day his supervisor told him that security wanted to question him and the first thing they said was mr. shoemaker we understand you're leading a gay lifestyle and I said well I didn't think I was leading it but I said yes I am and immediately they took my badge off and they read me my rights and so he called Frank Kameny and he yelled that man said why did you let them take your
• 08:00 - 08:30 badge and and why didn't you shut your mouth six months later with camis help shoemaker made headlines when the agency allowed him to keep his job and his security clearance in 1995 after 42 years the last vestiges of Eisenhower's executive order were finally overturned how many gay federal employees actually spied for foreign governments there was
• 08:30 - 09:00 not a single example of a gay man or lesbian who ever submitted to blackmail by a foreign agent not a single one in 2009 Frank Kameny was back at the White House Frank Kameny this time invited by President Obama for a ceremony extending the rights of gay federal employees Kameny died in 2011 not long after he
• 09:00 - 09:30 was interviewed by Josh Howard who says there are still lessons to be learned from his courage I grew up in a time before there was marriage equality and before Stonewall so I'm in some ways envious of younger people that they are growing up in a more tolerant society but I also hope that they understand that equality is is not a given that there were people who fought and sacrificed for those accomplishments