Military Surveillance of Gay Student Groups Recalls McCarthy Era Crackdowns; Historians React to Secret Pentagon Database.

Publication: AScribe Law News Service

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Byline: Center for the Study of Sexual Minorities in the Military

SANTA BARBARA, Calif., Dec. 19 (AScribe Newswire) -- The recent revelation that the U.S. military is spying on gay rights groups, say historians, evokes the Cold War crackdowns on gays during the McCarthy era. Then, as now, the government compiled lists of American citizens who were suspected of subversive activity by virtue of their association with critics of government policy. Targets included gays and members of gay or gay-friendly groups.

Last week, NBC News reported it had obtained sections of a secret Pentagon database with information about individuals linked to peaceful activist and protest groups that opposed certain U.S. military actions. According to the Advocate, the military has been monitoring meetings and events it deems "suspicious," including gatherings...

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