At Four In The Morning, Reading Headlines…

And a question pops into my head, I was reading;

Revealed: JD Vance promoted far-right views in speech about extremists’ book
Up from Conservatism advocates repeal of Civil Rights Act, investigations into ‘gay lifestyle’ and defunding childcare
The Guardian
By Jason Wilson
22 Aug 2024

In a December 2023 speech, JD Vance defended a notorious white nationalist convicted over 2016 election disinformation, canvassed the possibility of breaking up tech companies, attacked diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts and talked about a social media “censorship regime” that “came from the deep state on some level”.

The senator’s speech was given at the launch of a “counterrevolutionary” book – praised by the now Republican vice-presidential candidate as “great” – which was edited and mostly written by employees of the far-right Claremont Institute.

In the book, Up from Conservatism, the authors advocate for the repeal of the Civil Rights Act, for politicians to conduct “deep investigations into what the gay lifestyle actually does to people”, that college and childcare be defunded and that rightwing governments “promote male-dominated industries” in order to discourage female participation in the workplace.

So when I read that what popped into my head was… “The Lavender Scare” it was like “Deja Vu all over again.” So I asked my favorite AI, Perplexity AI: “Compare the Lavender Scare with today's anti-LGBTQ+ movement?”

Answer
The Lavender Scare of the 1950s and today's anti-LGBTQ movements share some concerning parallels, but also have significant differences:

Similarities

•     Institutionalized discrimination: Both eras saw attempts to codify discrimination into law and policy. The Lavender Scare led to Executive Order 10450, which banned homosexuals from federal employment. Today, we see efforts to pass laws restricting LGBTQ rights in areas like education and healthcare.
•   Moral panic: Both periods feature a moral panic about LGBTQ people as a perceived threat to society. In the 1950s, homosexuals were seen as security risks and communist sympathizers. Today, some groups portray LGBTQ individuals, especially transgender people, as threats to traditional values or children's safety.
•   Impact on LGBTQ lives: Both movements have real-world consequences for LGBTQ individuals, including job loss, discrimination, and increased fear and anxiety within the community.

Differences

•     Scope of persecution: The Lavender Scare primarily targeted federal employees, while today's anti-LGBTQ efforts are more broadly aimed at LGBTQ rights in various sectors of society.
•    Visibility and representation: During the Lavender Scare, LGBTQ people had virtually no public visibility or representation. Today, LGBTQ individuals have more visibility in media, politics, and public life, though discrimination persists.
•   Legal protections: The Lavender Scare occurred in an era with no legal protections for LGBTQ individuals. Today, there are some federal and state-level protections against discrimination, though these are often contested.
•   Public opinion: Public attitudes towards LGBTQ people have shifted significantly since the 1950s, with greater acceptance in many parts of society, although opposition remains in some quarters.
•   LGBTQ activism: The modern LGBTQ rights movement is much more organized and visible than in the 1950s, with established advocacy groups and legal resources to fight discrimination.

While both periods demonstrate how fear and prejudice can be weaponized against marginalized communities, the current era benefits from decades of LGBTQ activism, increased visibility, and evolving social attitudes. However, the persistence of anti-LGBTQ sentiment and policy efforts shows that the struggle for full equality and acceptance continues.

So what are your thoughts about what the AI wrote? If you were a history teach and you asked that question on a test, how would you grade it?

Back then it was bipartisan effort in attacking us, now it is just the Republicans.