EPISODE · Jul 9, 2022 · 49 MIN
Author James Kirchick on the secret history of gay power brokers in Washington, D.C.
from Firing Line with Margaret Hoover · host Firing Line With Margaret Hoover
Author James Kirchick joins Margaret Hoover to talk about his new bestseller, “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington,” and the facts and fiction about gay men and women in politics and government from the FDR administration to the end of the 20th century. Gays within the federal government persistently faced suspicion, harassment, and ostracization, even as they filled vital jobs in the State Department, the intelligence services, and the White House. Kirchick recounts the moral panic of the Lavender Scare, responds to long-standing rumors about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Eleanor Roosevelt, and reveals new details about fears on the right that Ronald Reagan was being manipulated by a “homosexual network.” He also talks about the state of LGBTQ rights in America in the 21st century, the signs of a brewing backlash against inclusivity, and why some homosexual politicians in Washington today might still feel compelled to remain in the closet. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, and The Marc Haas Foundation.
What this episode covers
Author James Kirchick joins Margaret Hoover to talk about his new bestseller, “Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington,” and the facts and fiction about gay men and women in politics and government from the FDR administration to the end of the 20th century. Gays within the federal government persistently faced suspicion, harassment, and ostracization, even as they filled vital jobs in the State Department, the intelligence services, and the White House. Kirchick recounts the moral panic of the Lavender Scare, responds to long-standing rumors about FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and Eleanor Roosevelt, and reveals new details about fears on the right that Ronald Reagan was being manipulated by a “homosexual network.” He also talks about the state of LGBTQ rights in America in the 21st century, the signs of a brewing backlash against inclusivity, and why some homosexual politicians in Washington today might still feel compelled to remain in the closet. Support for “Firing Line for Margaret Hoover” is provided by Stephens Inc., Robert Granieri, Charles R. Schwab, The Fairweather Foundation, Asness Family Foundation, The Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Damon Button, and The Marc Haas Foundation.
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Author James Kirchick on the secret history of gay power brokers in Washington, D.C.
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