There’s perhaps no more critical election in U.S. history than the one on November 5, where democracy itself seems at stake. Vice President Kamala Harris has emphasized how former President Donald Trump threatens not just American democracy, but also the daily lives of its citizens, particularly marginalized communities. Trump’s accusations against immigrants, such as his debunked claim that Haitian immigrants in Ohio are kidnapping and eating pets, recall the dangers of rumor-mongering from the past. This rhetoric echoes the "Lavender Scare" of the 1950s, when, during the Red Scare, homosexual men and women were branded as “deviants” and “national security threats.” Led by Republican Senator Joseph McCarthy, the era was marked by false accusations, public purges, and deep-rooted paranoia. Government officials, including closeted homosexuals like Roy Cohn, carried out these purges, which destroyed the careers and lives of countless LGBTQ Americans. A major weapon in this crusade was Executive Order 10450, signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953. This order led to the mass expulsion of gay and lesbian employees from government positions, a policy that wasn’t fully reversed until 1995. The ripple effects of the Lavender Scare were devastating, forcing people out of their jobs, leading some to suicide, and forever altering the lives of thousands. As Trump and his allies champion a platform reminiscent of McCarthy-era policies, including the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, which threatens queer rights, history warns us of the potential dangers. What happened during the Lavender Scare shows how easily an entire community can be vilified and terrorized. With Election Day approaching, it's vital to remember this dark chapter of American history to avoid repeating it. #Queer Up Politics