Lavender Scare

By 22htaylor

  • 1940s, The Origins

    1940s, The Origins
    In the 1940s, same sex marriages were illegal and unheard of due to the little resistance that the U.S. government faced. All LGBT individuals were nervous about coming out. Couples were forced to keep their same sex relationships private to avoid public shame. At this time, all LGBT people were scared of police and federal law enforcement.

  • 1950, The Beginning of the Lavender Scare

    1950, The Beginning of the Lavender Scare
    1950 marked the beginning of the Lavender Scare. LGBT people were immediately called out and labeled as threats to the nation. They lost their jobs and faced cruel punishment which included being arrested without a proper trial.

  • 1952, A Sociopathic Disease?

    1952, A Sociopathic Disease?
    In 1952, homosexuality was listed by the United States government as a sociopathic disease. In March, the federal government announced its removal of 162 civil servants suspecting of being homosexual. This brought fear and confusion among LGBT individuals.

  • 1953, Banned from Federal Government

    1953, Banned from Federal Government
    In 1953, homosexuals were officially banned from working within the Federal government of the United States. Along with alcoholics and neurotics, LGBT individuals were listed as security threats. Late into 1953, protests that defended LGBT rights started to grow popular.

  • 1954, Growth and Rise of Protests

    1954, Growth and Rise of Protests
    As 1954 progressed, the number of LGBT individuals grew significantly. Because of this, the families and friends of these people started to support and take part in LGBT protests. This started a nationwide movement for LGBT rights.

  • 1955, Lesbian Rights

    1955, Lesbian Rights
    In 1955, the first official Lesbian Rights Organization was founded in San Fransisco, California. The Daughters, was the first lesbian civil and political rights organization in the United States. The San Francisco based organization was conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were subject to raids and police harassment.

  • 1956, Proven Scientifically the Same

    1956, Proven Scientifically the Same
    In 1956, homosexuals were proven to be scientifically the same as straight people and not inferior in any way.

  • 1958, Improving Acceptance

    1958, Improving Acceptance
    In 1958, homosexuals were becoming more and more accepted by the outside world. With the protests finally beginning to create an affect on the government, there were multiple states that were on the verge of decriminalzing homosexuality. Also, the (LGBT) magazine "One: The Homosexual Magazine." was published meaning LGBT individuals were now gaining the courage to speak on their sexuality to the general public and press.

  • 1962, Illinois Decriminalizes Homosexuality

    1962, Illinois Decriminalizes Homosexuality
    In 1962, the first state in the country decriminalized homosexuality. This state was Illinois, which faced a lot of ridicule in this decision. However, in the next few years many states would follow and today gays, while there is some resistance by some of the public, are allowed in everyday state.