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Cheri Jo (C.J) Pacoe, is a queer American sociologist best known for her research on gender, youth, and sexuality. Pascoe was born in Seattle, Washington, and earned her Ph.D in sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2007, she published her book, Dude, You’re a Fag: Masculinity and Sexuality in High School in which she explores how teenage boys enforce masculinity through homophobic language adn behaviors.

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Why Emergent Homophobia Needs to be Addressed 

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Why Emergent Homophobia Needs to be Addressed 

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Emergent homophobia is a dangerous evolution of hate that hides behind coded language, behaviors, and policies and is often institutional. For instance, when someone says, “We don’t want those agendas in schools,” it leads to the banning of books and denies LGBTQ identities. Emergent homophobia pretends to be “neutral,” but rather, those who are homophobic are often silent despite the rising LGBTQ+ suicide rates, hate crimes, and laws stripping human rights.

Emergent homophobia appeals to “parental rights” and “religious freedom”, allowing this kind of hate to persist under the guise of moral and civil responsibility. Furthermore, the normalization of this rhetoric contributes to broader systems of structural violence, and oppression of race, gender, and class. Despite this, many homophobic individuals fail to see that queer rights are human rights. When queer individuals thrive, everyone benefits from more inclusive schools, art expression and safer communities.

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Shh! Silence Helps Homophobia - LGBT Youth Scotland

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Why are people homophobic? | What's Behind Prejudice? Episode 2 | BBC Ideas

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Focus: normalization, stigma, binary gender roles

Definition: the assumption that heterosexuality is the default, natural, or "normal" sexual orientation, and that gender identity is binary and aligned with one’s sex assigned at birth

Key Features:

Assuming everyone is straight unless stated otherwise and those in heterosexual relationships are “normal” while others are “deviant”.

The assumption that there are only two genders and men are expected to be strong, assertive, and providers, while women are nurturing and passive.

Heteronormativity holds up the heterosexual, monogamous, married couple with children as the ideal family structure.

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Heteronormativity - Today's Homophobia | Eli Weinger | TEDxYouth@SRDS

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The Christian church is facing growing backlash for its perceived and, in many cases, explicit homophobia due to its historical role in promoting such doctrines, political affiliation with anti-LGBTQ legislation, and its failure to adapt to modern understanding of gender and sexuality.

For centuries, the church has interpreted biblical texts in ways that label homosexuality as sinful, further contributing to the widespread stigma and discrimination. The church’s interpretation has also been used to justify the marginalization of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Furthermore, many Christian denominations have actively supported or remained complicit in political efforts to restrict LGBTQ+ rights, including opposition to same sex marriage, transgender healthcare, and inclusive education. As a result, this has sparked national outrage from members and allies of the LGBT community who view these beliefs as intolerant and disconnected from modern values of inclusion, compassion, and justice.

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Did Christian homophobia come from a mistranslation of the Bible?

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A new documentary challenges an alleged 1946 mistranslation that helped lead to a justification for Christian anti-gayness

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Focus: Targeting, McCarthyism, Persecution

Definition: A period during the 1940s and 1950s in the United States when LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly gay men and lesbians, were systematically targeted, persecuted, and removed from government employment due to the belief that they posed a threat to national security.

Key Features:

The belief was that LGBTQ+ members were more vulnerable to blackmail by foreign agents, particularly communists.

Homosexuality was seen as a moral weakness, contributing to the belief that gay individuals could not be trusted with positions of power or responsibility.

LGBTQ+ individuals were often linked with communist sympathizers, with both groups seen as subversive threats to national security. This association of homosexuality with communism deepened the persecution.

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The Lavender Scare

The world changed rapidly in the wake of World War II. Suddenly, events halfway across the globe were affecting Americans at home, none more than the rise of the Soviet Union. This environment of fear had people concerned with one thing: loyalty.
But as the Cold War intensified, loyalty was no longer enough. The question became, "Who is suitable to work for the federal government?" When the LGBTQ+ community became conflated with Communism, they became the targets of a more intense and destructive investigation.
This week, we're shedding light on the lesser-known companion investigation of the Red Scare...

In this issue

History Snack

Red Refresher

You probably learned about the Red Scare in your high school history class. Senator Joseph McCarthy takes advantage of the post World War II anti-Communist sentiment to "hunt down" suspected Communists in the federal government. At first, McCarthy had momentum not only in eradicating Communists from the federal government, but also from Hollywood and the creative industries as well.
As the Cold War heated up and fear increasingly gripped the nation, McCarthy was only able to expand his hunt for Communists and wield his power to control Congress' agenda. A designated committee, called the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC), was formed to conduct hearings to intensely question suspected Communists one by one. But almost as quickly as McCarthy was able to whip up paranoia, it all came crashing down. It turns out that McCarthy's threat of secret Communists was pretty empty. By the late 1950s, former president Harry Truman said the committee and McCarthy's actions were "the most un-American thing in the country today."

If you want a more in-depth refresher on the Red Scare before you continue reading, visit our past issue, "The Loyalty Test."

In the Grip of Fear

Suspected Communists were not the only ones McCarthy's investigations targeted. The general public was becoming increasingly aware of homosexuality, but this did not make them more accepting. In fact, the general awareness only fueled the sex-crime and morality panic that America was facing at the time. Wrap that up with the paranoia of the Red Scare, and the LGBTQ+ community becomes inextricably linked with Communists as a group to fear.

It didn't help that McCarthy himself didn't hesitate to fan the flames of panic. In his famous speech to Congress when he claimed he had a list of 205 known Communists employed by the State Department, he singled out two of the cases that had to do with homosexuality. McCarthy theorized that both Communists and homosexuals had "peculiar mental twists" that caused their deviant behavior. This rhetoric kicked off a much longer, destructive, and effective hunt for LGBTQ+ federal employees that's now known as the Lavender Scare.
In March 1950, two Senators made up an entire committee to investigate the presence of homosexuals in the federal government. It was a bipartisan effort between Republican Senator Kenneth Wherry and Democratic Senator J. Lister Hill. As they began digging into federal departments that employed suspected homosexuals, the government responded by more intensely monitoring their employees' behavior. As suspected homosexuals were accused, they faced an impossible choice: resign or be publicly outed on the Congressional record

The fact that a two-man Congressional committee triggered the resignation of about 100 members of the LGBTQ+ community only reaffirmed the threat of homosexuality and bolstered the need for investigation. Compared to the Red Scare, which produced little to no results, the Lavender Scare seemed legitimate.

The next step was to intensify the investigation. Three more Republicans and three more Democrats were added to the Senate Committee, now chaired by Senator Clyde Hoey. The committee sent a survey to every branch of the military and civilian department asking their opinions on homosexual employees. Most agreed that homosexuals were unfit to serve in government roles.
At the committee hearings, the intelligence community, military, park police, and law enforcement communities were especially well represented. But a small number of agencies resisted these inquiries. Howard Colvin, the acting director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said that he preferred to evaluate each case individually because homosexuals who led well-adjusted lives could make good employees. Jim Shovel, director of personnel at the National Labor Relations Board, blatantly refused to give the committee access to his files and was generally uncooperative. Completely unrepresented at committee hearings were gay men and lesbian women.

In addition to testimony on fitness and security, the Senate committee also called doctors to testify on the medical aspects of homosexuality. Many of them spoke to the complexity of homosexuality and alluded to a spectrum. By 1952, homosexuality was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a "sociopathic" condition, generating an incredible amount of stigma and discrimination.
As for using medical diagnoses for quickly identifying homosexuals in government employment, the Senators were disappointed. Senator Margaret Chase Smith asked, "There is no quick test like an x-ray that discloses these things?" "No, unfortunately," the doctor replied, "it is a long interview affair."

The Final Order

The committee's investigation went on for years and culminated in a report titled Employment of Homosexuals and Other Sex Perverts in Government, estimating that there were more than 5,000 homosexuals employed by the federal government. On April 27, 1953, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450: Security Requirements for Government Employment. It labeled members of the LGBTQ+ community security threats and barred them from being hired for federal jobs.

It's hard to determine the precise number of people who were adversely affected by EO 10450, but it's estimated that between 5,000 and 10,000 LGBTQ+ individuals were either terminated or resigned from their jobs.

In 1973, the Supreme Court issued a ruling that homosexuality alone was not a reason to terminate a federal employee. In 1975, the Senate committee that investigated homosexuality in the federal government was officially disbanded. In 1994, gay service members were permitted in the military under the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and automatic security clearance denial and revocation ended in 1995. In 2017, EO 10450 was finally repealed in its entirety by President Barack Obama on his final day in office.

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The Lavender Scare - National Archives Foundation

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The world changed rapidly in the wake of World War II. Suddenly, events halfway across the globe were affecting Americans at home, none more than the rise of the Soviet Union. This environment of fear had people concerned with one thing: loyalty. But as the Cold War intensified, loyalty was no longer enough.

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Homophobia within the black community must be understood through an intersectional lens that considers aspects of racial oppression, systematic marginalization, and religious tradition. While black individuals are overwhelmingly the most likely to vote for the democratic party, a party that supports LGBTQ+ rights, black individuals often reinforce the heteronormative and patriarchal values rooted in christian doctrine. For Black LGBTQ+ individuals, marginalization happens not only from society at large but often within their communities, leading to disproportionately high rates of mental health struggles, homelessness, and violence. Cultural narratives that frame queerness as a “white thing” or as an external threat to Black identity also continue to shape attitudes, often fueled by misinformation or internalized oppression.

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Examining the roots of homophobia in the Black community | Isaiah Boozer | TEDxDePaulUniversity

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Focus: Fear, Discrimination, Neglect

Definition: The global health epidemic that began in the early 1980s, when the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) led to the widespread AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) among individuals.

Key Features:

Was initially associated with gay men, as the disease was first widely recognized in the gay community. This led to the stigmatization of LGBTQ+ individuals as being the primary group at risk, often referred to as “gay cancer” in the early days.

Under President Ronald Reagan, was widely criticized for its lack of response to the AIDS crisis. The administration was slow to acknowledge the seriousness of the epidemic, despite mounting cases, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community and among intravenous drug users.

Led to increased LGBTQ+ activism for policy change, better treatment options, and support for those affected

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How AIDS Remained an Unspoken—But Deadly—Epidemic for Years | HISTORY

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Health officials first became aware of AIDS in the summer of 1981, but U.S. leaders remained largely silent for four years.

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In the United States, the Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges, legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. This landmark decision affirmed that same-sex couples have the constitutional right to marry, ensuring equal protection under the law.

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States cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions, the Supreme Court says in a ruling that for months has been the focus of speculation. The decision was 5-4.

Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as a pivotal swing vote in the case, wrote the majority opinion. All four justices who voted against the ruling wrote their own dissenting opinions: Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

"They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law," Kennedy wrote of same-sex couples in the case. "The Constitution grants them that right."

Comparing the ruling to other landmark decisions, NPR's Nina Totenberg says, "This is probably right up there with Brown v. Board of Education, and Roe v. Wade - if you like it or hate it - and today, Obergefell v. Hodges. This was a historic moment."

The opinion includes more than 100 pages; we've embedded it near the bottom of this post.
Update at 11:30 a.m. ET: 'Our Love Is Equal,' Obergefell Says
Friday's ruling "affirms what millions across this country already know to be true in their hearts: our love is equal," says lead plaintiff Jim Obergefell, who challenged Ohio's ban on same-sex marriage.

Obergefell continued, "the four words etched onto the front of the Supreme Court - 'equal justice under law' - apply to us, too."

He filed suit because he wasn't allowed to put his name on his late husband John Arthur's death certificate after Arthur died from ALS. Holding a photograph of Arthur as he spoke Friday, Obergefell said, "No American should have to suffer that indignity."

Obergefell has been traveling from Cincinnati to Washington every week, to be sure he would be in the court when a decision was announced in his case.
Update at 11:15 a.m. ET: 'Like A Thunderbolt,' Obama Says
Speaking at the White House, President Obama praised the Supreme Court's ruling, saying it arrived "like a thunderbolt" after a series of back-and-forth battles over same-sex marriage.

Obama says the ruling "will strengthen all of our communities" by offering dignity and equal status to all same-sex couples and their families.

The president calls the ruling "a victory for America."
Update at 10:37 a.m. ET: More On The Ruling, And Obama's Reaction
"The ancient origins of marriage confirm its centrality, but it has not stood in isolation from developments in law and society," Kennedy wrote. His opinion sketches a history of how ideas of marriage have evolved along with the changing roles and legal status of women.

Comparing that evolution to society's views of gays and lesbians, Kennedy noted that for years, "a truthful declaration by same-sex couples of what was in their hearts had to remain unspoken."

"The nature of injustice is that we may not always see it in our own times," Kennedy wrote after recounting the legal struggles faced by same-sex partners.

The Supreme Court said that the right to marry is fundamental - and Kennedy wrote that under the 14th Amendment's protections, "couples of the same-sex may not be deprived of that right and that liberty."

In his dissent, Roberts wrote that the court had taken an "extraordinary step" in deciding not to allow states to decide the issue for themselves, saying that the Constitution does not define marriage.

Calling the ruling "deeply disheartening," Roberts said that those on the winning side of the issue should celebrate a victory - "But do not celebrate the Constitution," he wrote. "It had nothing to do with it."

Justice Scalia said the Supreme Court's "highly unrepresentative panel of nine" had violated "a principle even more fundamental than no taxation without representation."

We've covered those dissents in a separate post.

Welcoming the news on Twitter, President Obama wrote, "Today is a big step in our march toward equality. Gay and lesbian couples now have the right to marry, just like anyone else. #LoveWins."
Our original post continues:
The justices ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, which is linked to three other same-sex marriage cases that rose up through the court system. Together, they involve a dozen couples who challenged same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee - the only states with bans on marriage between gay and lesbian couples that had been sustained by a federal appeals court.

Friday's ruling overturned that decision by the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. As the Supreme Court's summary states, "The history of marriage is one of both continuity and change."

The justices had been asked to decide whether the 14th Amendment requires states to a) license same-sex marriages and b) recognize such unions that were made in other states.

The 14th Amendment, we'll remind you, was ratified shortly after the Civil War. It has to do with U.S. citizenship - and with providing equal protection for all citizens.

Before Friday's ruling, gay marriage had already been made legal in 37 states and the District of Columbia - by either legislative or voter action or by federal courts that overturned state' bans.

As NPR's Nina Totenberg reported when the Supreme Court heard the current case back in April, conservative justices had pointed questions for the attorneys:

"Justice Scalia asked whether ministers would be able to refuse to marry two gay men. The answer was that it has to be worked out under state laws. He said, but that could happen - it could happen that a minister would be forced to marry two gay men, in violation of his beliefs.

"Justice Alito asked, well then why not marry four gay men together? Why just two?"

The ruling announced Friday adds new definition to an issue that has remained controversial even as an increasing number of Americans say they support equal marriage rights for same-sex couples. A recent Gallup poll found that 60 percent of Americans - an all-time high - support extending the same rights and privileges to same-sex marriages as traditional ones.

That figure included "37 percent of Republicans, 64 percent of independents, and 76 percent of Democrats," as we reported last month. And it included all age groups except for one: those 65 and over.

The court noted the change in thinking, stating:

"Well into the 20th century, many States condemned same-sex intimacy as immoral, and homosexuality was treated as an illness. Later in the century, cultural and political developments allowed same-sex couples to lead more open and public lives. Extensive public and private dialogue followed, along with shifts in public attitudes. Questions about the legal treatment of gays and lesbians soon reached the courts, where they could be discussed in the formal discourse of the law."

For supporters of same-sex marriage, Friday's ruling comes as a long-awaited bookend to the Supreme Court's 2013 ruling that struck down the federal Defense of Marriage Act and required the U.S. government to provide the same benefits to both gay and heterosexual couples.

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Supreme Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Legal In All 50 States

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States cannot keep same-sex couples from marrying and must recognize their unions, the Supreme Court says in a ruling that for months has been the focus of speculation. The decision was 5-4. Justice Anthony Kennedy, seen as a pivotal swing vote in the case, wrote the majority opinion.

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On a societal level, homophobia disrupts family structures, education systems, and healthcare access, creating environments where fear, shame, and silence are normalized. This stifles creativity, innovation, and empathy in communities and institutions.

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Did You Know?

Harvey Milk (1930-1978) - Giving Hope

People told him no openly gay man could win political office. Fortunately, he ignored them. His life now a feature film, Milk was the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office.

There was a time when it was impossible for people - straight or gay - even to imagine a Harvey Milk. The funny thing about Milk is that he didn't seem to care that he lived in such a time. After he defied the governing class of San Francisco to become a member of its board of supervisors, many people had to adjust to a new reality he embodied: that a gay person could live an honest life and succeed.

Milk knew that the root cause of the gay predicament was invisibility. Milk suspected emotional trauma was gays' worst foe - particularly for those in the closet...That made the election of an openly gay person, not a straight ally, symbolically crucial.

"You gotta give them hope," Milk always said.

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People told him no openly gay man could win political office. Fortunately, he ignored them. His life now a feature film, Milk was the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office. There was a time when it was impossible for people - straight or gay - even to imagine a Harvey Milk.

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Focus:  Manipulation, Abuse, Control

Definition: A process where an adult establishes an emotional connection with a child or vulnerable individual, often with the intent of manipulating, exploiting, or abusing them.

Key Features:

Conservatives believe that LGBTQ+ people pose a threat to children due to misunderstandings of sexual orientation.

Misinformation campaigns often focus on fear-mongering tactics that equate LGBTQ+ rights or visibility with child exploitation, which distorts the true nature of sexual abuse and grooming.

Equating these behaviors with being gay is both inaccurate and harmful as sexual abuse and grooming behavior can be committed by individuals of any sexual orientation.

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What is “Grooming?” The Truth Behind the Dangerous, Bigoted Lie Targeting the LGBTQ+ Community

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Far-right and extremist voices have launched a significant attack against the LGBTQ+ community in 2021-2022, demonizing people via repeated false claims that LGBTQ+ people are “pedophiles” who are “grooming” children in order to abuse them. This false and malicious narrative has been weaponized to label the LGBTQ+ community as “groomers” and has fueled a slew of hostile legislation and policies aimed at erasing the discussion of LGBTQ+ related issues in schools, removing LGBTQ+ books from schools and public libraries and, especially, to ostracize, defame and harass transgender people.

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The Parental Rights in Education Act, ("Don't Say Gay") bill, is a Florida law enacted on July 1, 2022. It restricts public school instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade and in a manner deemed "not age-appropriate" for other grades .

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As of 2025, over 60 countries continue to criminalize same-sex sexual activity between consenting adults. These laws often stem from colonial-era statutes, religious doctrines, or conservative cultural norms.

These laws vary in severity, with some countries imposing prison sentences, corporal punishment, or even the death penalty. In many cases, these laws are remnants of colonial-era legislation or are influenced by conservative religious interpretations.​

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US Vice-President Kamala Harris who is on a tour of three African countries - Ghana, Tanzania and Zambia - has drawn criticism over her support for LGBTQ rights.

In Ghana, in a speech calling for "all people be treated equally" she appeared to criticise a bill before the country's parliament which criminalises advocacy for gay rights and proposes jail terms for those that identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender.

The country's Speaker Alban Bagbin later called her remarks "undemocratic" and urged lawmakers not to be "intimidated by any person".

In Tanzania, a former minister spoke against US support for LGBTQ rights ahead of the visit and in Zambia some opposition politicians have threatened to hold protests.

Where is homosexuality still outlawed?

Some countries, including several in Africa, have recently moved to decriminalise same-sex unions and improve rights for LGBTQ people.

In December 2022, Singapore's parliament repealed a controversial law which banned sex between men.

In July last year, the courts in Antigua and Barbuda declared a law criminalising same-sex acts between consenting adults unconstitutional.

In February 2021, Angola's President Joao Lourenco signed into law a revised penal code to allow same-sex relationships and ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

In 2020, Gabon reversed a law that had criminalised homosexuality and made gay sex punishable with six months in prison and a large fine.

But there are countries where existing laws outlawing homosexuality have been tightened, including Nigeria and Uganda.

And in some countries, efforts to get the laws removed have failed.

In May 2019, the high court in Kenya upheld laws criminalising homosexual acts. In February his year Kenya's highest court ruled that it was wrong for authorities to ban the gay community from registering a rights organisation. but it stressed that gay sex remains illegal.

Colonial legacy

Many of the laws criminalising homosexual relations originate from colonial times.

And in many places, breaking these laws could be punishable by long prison sentences.

Out of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth - a loose association of countries most of them former British colonies - 29 have laws that criminalise homosexuality.

Although the original British laws applied only to men, countries that criminalise homosexuality today also have penalties for women who have sex with women.

The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (Ilga) monitors the progress of laws relating to homosexuality around the world.

It says the death penalty is the legally prescribed punishment for same-sex sexual acts in Brunei, Iran, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and in some northern states of Nigeria.

In five countries - Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, and the United Arab Emirates - there is no legal clarity and the death penalty could be applied.

Sudan repealed the death penalty for consensual same-sex sexual acts in 2020.

Some observers note that the risk of prosecution in some places is minimal.

Activist groups say the ability of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) organisations to carry out advocacy work is being restricted.

Changing trend

There is a global trend toward decriminalising same-sex acts.

So far, 33 countries in the world recognise same-sex marriages, and 34 others provide for some partnership recognition for same-sex couples, Ilga says.

In Africa, same-sex marriages and civil unions are only legal in South Africa, and the French Islands of Mayotte and Reunion.

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Homosexuality: The countries where it is illegal to be gay

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The US vice president's vocal support for LGBTQ rights has drawn criticism on her tour of African countries.

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Ronald Reagan (1911 - 2004) served as the 40th president of the United States and is often remembered as a transformative conservative figure who reshaped American politics. Reagan was born in a small apartment to an alcoholic shoe salesman father and a stay-at-home mother. After Reagan graduated from high school, he attended Eureka College, where he majored in economics. After college, Reagan actually landed a job as a radio sportscaster before transitioning to acting.

Reagan made a transition to politics, serving as governor of California before winning the election in 1990, beating Jimmy Carter. As president, Reagan acknowledged AIDS, a disease particularly affecting gay men, only after more than 12,000 Americans died. His administration’s silence and inaction, coupled with the openly homophobic attitudes of many of his advisors and press secretaries, fostered a climate of indifference and stigma. Critics argue that Reagan’s failure to respond to the epidemic reflected a broader ideological resistance to queer rights, rooted in religious conservatism, moral traditionalism, and a political alliance with the Religious Right. Beyond AIDS, Reagan opposed LGBTQ+ rights on multiple fronts. In addition, he publicly spoke out against gay marriage and, as Governor of California in 1978, initially supported Proposition 6 (also known as the Briggs Initiative), which sought to ban gay teachers from public schools.

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Ron DeSantis (born September 14, 1978) is an American politician who currently serves as the 46 governor of Florida. Desantois was born in Jacksonville, Florida to Italian immigrant parents. After High school, Desantis attended Yale University and then Harvard University all while being in the Navy.

His rise to national prominence was largely fueled by his alliance with former President Donald Trump and his emphasis on "anti-woke" governance. As governor, DeSantis has championed a legislative agenda that targets LGBTQ+ visibility and rights, particularly in schools and public discourse.

One of the most controversial laws under his administration is Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act (2022)—widely dubbed the "Don’t Say Gay" law—which prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grade levels, and has been expanded to include all grades in some contexts. Critics argue the law erases queer identities from public education, fosters a climate of fear, and encourages censorship. It has also led to book bans, punitive policies for teachers, and increased scrutiny of LGBTQ+ student support services.

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Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist who redefined the role of First Lady during her husband Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. Renowned for her advocacy for civil rights, women’s empowerment, and international human rights, Roosevelt’s legacy also includes a lesser-known but significant connection to early LGBTQ+ advocacy—particularly through her friendships and open-minded attitudes during an era of intense social conservatism.

As First Lady, Roosevelt was groundbreaking in her public visibility and political influence. She held press conferences, wrote a syndicated newspaper column, and championed causes often overlooked by the political mainstream. While she did not speak explicitly about LGBTQ+ rights in the way we understand them today, she maintained close personal relationships with several lesbian women and was deeply immersed in artistic, feminist, and progressive circles where queer identities were present, if not always publicly acknowledged. Her actions, alliances, and values reflect an ethos of quiet allyship and progressive inclusion. Her legacy continues to inspire activists working at the intersections of gender, sexuality, and human rights.

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Bostock v. Clayton County was a case in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace. The decision, delivered on June 15, 2020, was a pivotal moment in LGBTQ+ civil rights.

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Ball , L. (2025). Shh! Silence Helps Homophobia - LGBT Youth Scotland. Youtu.be; LGBT Youth Scotland. https://youtu.be/XQKGigb5l28?si=y2lanhLnVCpfhxs0

BBC Ideas. (2020). Why are people homophobic? | What’s Behind Prejudice? Episode 2 | BBC Ideas [YouTube Video]. In YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLxAwdbekU8

BBC News. (2021, May 12). Commonwealth Summit: The Countries Where It is Illegal to be Gay. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-43822234

Bennington-Castro, J. (2020, June). How AIDS Remained an Unspoken—But Deadly—Epidemic for Years | HISTORY. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/articles/aids-epidemic-ronald-reagan

Boozer, I. (2025). Examining the roots of homophobia in the Black community. Youtu.be; TEDx Talks. https://youtu.be/8CWOMgUCfIk?si=s1XU_92_j70C07MT

Cannon, L. (2017, July 11). Ronald Reagan: Life before the presidency. Miller Center. https://millercenter.org/president/reagan/life-before-the-presidency

Chappell, B. (2015, June 26). Supreme Court Declares Same-Sex Marriage Legal In All 50 States. NPR.org; NPR. https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/26/417717613/supreme-court-rules-all-states-must-allow-same-sex-marriages

CJ Pascoe. (2024). Sociology | Brown University. https://sociology.brown.edu/colloquia/cj-pascoe

Florida Department of State. (n.d.). Ronald Dion DeSantis - Florida Department of State. Dos.fl.gov. https://dos.fl.gov/florida-facts/florida-history/florida-governors/ronald-dion-desantis/

Ho, V. (2023, December 1). Did Christian homophobia come from a mistranslation of the Bible? The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/dec/01/christian-homophobia-bible-mistranslation-1946-documentary

How Homophobia hurts us all | Positive Space | Vancouver Island University. (2019). Adm.viu.ca. https://adm.viu.ca/positive-space/how-homophobia-hurts-us-all

National Archives Foundation. (2023, June 20). The Lavender Scare. National Archives Foundation. https://archivesfoundation.org/newsletter/the-lavender-scare/

National Education Association. (2023). What You Need to Know about Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” and “Don’t Say They” Laws, Book Bans, and Other Curricula Restrictions. National Education Association. https://www.nea.org/sites/default/files/2023-06/30424-know-your-rights_web_v4.pdf

Oyez. (2020, June 15). Bostock v. Clayton County. Oyez. https://www.oyez.org/cases/2019/17-1618

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https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-first-lady-of-gay-rights_b_7608122

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You are being redirected... (2024). Adl.org. https://www.adl.org/resources/article/what-grooming-truth-behind-dangerous-bigoted-lie-targeting-lgbtq-community