"I am a firm believer in history stupidly repeating itself, particularly bad history, because for some reason men in power don't think history applies to them. Or they think something that was universally agreed upon as bad is something good they want to bring back and shove down people's throats. After World War II and the horrific destruction caused by the Nazi Party, the world said never again, so much so that the party was banned in Germany."
"The original Lavender Scare was a twin to McCarthyism, when suspected communists were purged from government ranks. In parallel, queer men and women were hounded, questioned, and fired because they were deemed "security risks." The rationale was appalling - that being gay made you weak, vulnerable to blackmail, and untrustworthy. The federal government destroyed thousands of careers and lives. Some of those targeted never recovered, and many didn't live long enough to see things change."
Powerful actors are reviving tactics that marginalize and purge queer people from government roles. Comparisons are drawn between recent U.S. political behavior and authoritarian movements that ignore lessons from World War II. Calls from senior officials signal an intent to reintroduce policies resembling the 1950s Lavender Scare, when queer federal employees were labelled security risks, interrogated, and fired. The Lavender Scare paralleled McCarthyist purges and destroyed thousands of careers and lives, often irreparably. Some targeted individuals fought back, including Frank Kameny, a World War II veteran and astronomer who challenged his dismissal and helped pioneer LGBTQ+ civil rights.
Read at Advocate.com
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