Queer Theory and History in the US Wikia
Advertisement

This arose in response to the more visible displays of sexuality in the 1920s. In response to the circulation of sexology, many people, including Jay Edgar Hoover, called for an association of homosexuality with things such as child molestation and perversion. This identity labelled  homosexuals as dirty and diseased parts of society that needed to be cleansed in order to maintain social purity. Therefore, the creation of the sexual psychopath and fear for the safety of children led to increased institutionalization and incarceration of homosexual men during this time (Bronski).  [Satveer]

Advertisement