Événement

Screening of THE LAVENDER SCARE

Presented with Hamptons Take 2 Documentary Film Festival

Friday, May 18 | 6 PM | $10

(Documentary | 2017 | 77 min.*)

Plus Q&A with Director and Producer by Josh Howard

The Lavender Scare is the first documentary film to tell the little-known story of an unrelenting campaign by the federal government to identify and fire all employees suspected of being homosexual.

In 1953, President Eisenhower declared gay men and lesbians to be a threat to the security of the country and therefore unfit for government service. In doing so, he triggered the longest witch hunt in American history. Over the next four decades, tens of thousands of government workers would lose their jobs for no reason other than their sexual orientation.

But the actions of the government had an unintended effect. They inadvertently helped ignite the gay rights movement. In 1957, after thousands had lost their jobs, a Harvard-trained astronomer named Frank Kameny became the first person to fight his dismissal. His attempts to regain his job evolved into a lifelong fight for the rights of LGBT people.

The Lavender Scare is a compelling story of one mans fight for justice. And it is a chilling reminder of how easy it can be, during a time of fear and uncertainty, to trample the rights of an entire class of people in the name of patriotism and national security.

"Dine & Discuss" - Continue the Conversation! After each Friday night film, a local restaurant will host a communal table to allow attendees to discuss the film over dinner. Special discounts and/or a pre-fixe menu will be available. Check online for a list of participating restaurants.