David K. Johnson
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About David
Johnson's research focuses on the political and social development of the LGBT community in the United States. A nationally recognized authority on LGBT history, Johnson has contributed to government reports and amicus briefs with document a history of discrimination and seek to expand civil rights protections and create a more inclusive educational curriculm.
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Tells the frightening story of how homosexuality was deemed as much of a national security threat as Communism during the Cold War era. Explores the potent political weaponization of allegations that the Roosevelt and Truman administrations were havens for homosexuals, leading to a lasting "Lavender Scare" more intense than McCarthy's Red Scare. Reconstructs the vibrant gay subculture in midcentury Washington and the devastating impact of anti-homosexual purges on the lives and careers of thousands of Americans.
Explores the lives of 'physique entrepreneurs', including photography studios, mail-order catalogs, and advertising targeted at gay audiences, emphasizing their significance in the gay rights movement. Demonstrates that physique magazines played a crucial role in fostering a gay community, challenging censorship laws, and paving the way for open expression, highlighting that gay commerce was not a byproduct but rather an important catalyst for the gay rights movement.