The Lavender Scare

The Lavender Scare

Co-Presented by the Lillian and Albert Small Capital Jewish Museum

With the United States gripped in the panic of the 1950s Cold War, President
Dwight D. Eisenhower deemed homosexuals to be “security risks” and vowed to rid the
federal government of all employees discovered to be gay or lesbian.

Over the next four decades, tens of thousands of government workers lost their
jobs or were denied employment for no reason other than their sexual orientation.
But the mass firings had an unintended effect: they stirred outrage in the gay
community and helped to ignite the gay rights movement years before the Stonewall
Uprising.

Partly based on the award-winning book by historian David K. Johnson, The
Lavender Scare illuminates a shameful and little-known chapter of American history.
In the words of the Los Angeles Times: “A wealth of archival footage and stills,
candid chats with victims of this harrowing era (and a few unapologetic victimizers)
plus effective voiceovers by Glenn Close and others combine for a vivid, disturbing and
rousing picture of specious government intrusion at its worst.”

The CJM member discount code for this program differs from the code word on your membership card. Please call 202-525-2250 or email membership@capitaljewishmuseum.org to receive the code.