“Wreckers, Destroyers, Security Risks:”

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This paper was written as a part of the requirements for HIST 300E3: The Cold War, taught by Dr. Steven Harris in the Fall 2025 semester. We were tasked with utilizing a mix of primary and secondary sources to develop an argument about an aspect of the cold war. One of our primary sources was the anonymous 1955 “An Open Letter to Senator Dirksen” — I was fascinated by this form of queer activism pre-stonewall, and the author’s use of cold war propaganda and ideas to critique lavender scare era politics. The paper itself can be found below:

“Wreckers, Destroyers, Security Risks:” Early Gay Activists and the Cold War

American gay rights activists protest outside the White House on Armed Forces Day, on May 15, 1965.

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