"A gripping, nimbly assembled documentary.  A vivid, disturbing and rousing picture of specious government intrusion at its worst."

“Compelling and well-made.  The touching finale leaves you with a sense of resiliency.”

“Queer history is American history, and The Lavender Scare re-examines World War II, the Eisenhower administration and the space race through a lens of gay liberation. It’s fascinating and horrifying — and timely, given the continuing scapegoating of marginalized groups.”

“Josh Howard’s powerful film makes sure we don’t forget this lamentable time in history.”

“An essential and absorbing documentary tells the story of the political repression of homosexuality in America in the '50s, when anti-gay panic fused with anti-Communist paranoia to create a new beast of injustice.”

“The eye-opening documentary should be required viewing to understand how homophobia and persecution were supported by a government that can and should be challenged.  The message is clear not just about history repeating itself but possibly regressing to socially harmful and unjust ways.”

“An exceptional documentary, beautiful, carefully constructed and inspiring.  While we are not yet where we need to be, watching this film left me hopeful and inspired. I felt like I was back in the 60s, when I came of age, and anything seemed possible if we tried.”

“The film is a documentary, but it builds with such suspense that it feels like a thriller.”

“A must-see for anyone looking to immerse themselves in such history – especially LGBTQ viewers who want to learn more about their roots.  This film belongs on LGBTQ studies syllabi nationwide.”

“A fascinating documentary about a missing piece of our history.”

“Sheds a valuable spotlight on the U.S. government's shameful history of anti-gay discrimination.   A film that should be essential viewing in these times when intolerance is on the rise.”

 “Completely engrossing… the film delivers its impact with honesty and heart.”

“The Lavender Scare is thoroughly engaging.  Our students were fascinated by this untold story of American history.  ‘Why haven’t I ever learned about this in school?’ they asked.  Well, thanks to this invaluable film, now they have.”

--Katherine Parker

Professor of History

Monmouth University

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​“We loved the documentary.  The film provided a powerful historical perspective for all our employees, especially our younger LGBT staff, and it was a great conversation starter with our straight co-workers.” ​

--Dr. Chris LaFleur

Sandia National Laboratories

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“McDermott Will & Emery screened The Lavender Scare as part of the firm’s annual pride program.  The film received rave reviews for its authenticity and bold content.  It’s touching and inspiring, and its message becomes more relevant with each passing day.” ​

--Lisa A. Linsky, Partner

 Trial Department

 McDermott Will & Emery

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“We were delighted by the film and the audience reception.  Frankly, it far exceeded even my high expectations. It’s a beautiful film about a compelling story that needed to be told.”

 --Joyce Bolinger

Steering committee

Southern Arizona Senior Pride

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​“Our audience members, which included senior citizens, high school and college students as well as educators and members of the LGBTQ community were in awe of the film. Thank you for sharing it with us.” 

--Eric Mora

 Outreach Coordinator

The National Steinbeck Center

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Bedford (MA) Public Schools

Bloomberg Industry Group

Bridgewater State University

Butler University

California State University

Canadian Museum for Human Rights

Centers for Disease Control

Charles Stark Draper Laboratory

Chicago Cultural Center

Claremont University

City University of New York

Clinton Birthplace National Historic Site

Clovis United School District

Colorado College

College of Wooster

Dechert

Deutsche Bank

Eastern Washington University

FDR High School (Hyde Park, NY)

Downtown Bryan Association

Duke University

Eugene Water and Electric Board

Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

FS Investments

George Mason University

Hamline University

Harvard University

Here Technologies

Hudson Union Society

Indiana State University

Indianapolis Public Library

Jersey City Free Public Library

Lendlease Corporation

Longwood University

Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage

Milwaukee Jewish Museum

Minnesota State University

Modern Art Museum of Fort Woth

Monmouth University

National Steinbeck Center

Northwestern Connecticut Community College

NASA Langley Research Center

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Natick Council on Aging

National Inst. of Standards and Technology

National Park Service

New York University

Northwestern Connecticut Community College

Northwest Wyoming Community College

Otterbein University

Pasco Pride

PriceWaterhouseCoopers

RBC Capital Markets

Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute

SAGE

St. Ann's School

Sandia National Laboratories

Schiff Hardin LLP

Sidley Austin

SoHo House New York

Southampton Historical Society

Southern Arizona Senior Pride

Stanford University

Syracuse City School District

Tenderloin Neighborhood Development

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

U.S. National Park Service

University of Arkansas

University of Delaware

University of Illinois

University of Lynchburg

University of Massachusetts

University of Michigan

University of Notre Dame

University of Pennsylvania

University of Richmond

University of South Florida

University of Victoria

University of Washington

University of Wyoming

Wabash College

Wake Forest University

Williams College

Willkie Farr & Gallagher

Wyoming Seminary

Yale University

**Denotes Award Winner

Amsterdam

New Renaissance Festival

Ashford, Washington

Ranier Independent Film Festival

Atlanta

Jewish Film Festival / Out on Film

**Atlantic City

Garden State Film Festival

Austin

Austin Gay+Lesbian Film Festival

**Berlin

Courage Film Festival

Bethel, Connecticut

FilmFest 52

Buffalo

Buffalo Niagara Film Festival

Charlotte, North Carolina

Gay Charlotte Film Festival

Charlotte, North Carolina

Charlotte Int'l Film Festival

Charlottesville, Virginia

Virginia Film Festival

**Cologne

FilmFest Homochrom

**Fargo

Fargo-Morehead LGBT Film Festival

Flagstaff

Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival

Fort Lauderdale

OUTshine LGBT Film Festival

Fort Myers

Fort Myers Film Festival

**Fort Worth

Q Cinema Film Festival

Fresno

Fresno Reel Pride Film Festival

Geneva

Everybody's Perfect Film Festival

**Hartford, Connecticut

Out Film CT

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Houston

Queer Hippo LGBT Film Festival

Huntington Beach, California

SoCal Film Festival

Huntington, New York

Cinema Arts Center

**Kansas City

Out Here Now Film Festival

Long Beach, California

QFilms Long Beach

Long Branch, New Jersey

Monmouth University

**Louisville

Louisville LGBT Film Festival

**Macon, Georgia

Macon Film Festival

Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts

Spectrum Film Festival

**Memphis

Outflix Film Festival

​Miami

OutShine Film Festival

Milwaukee

LGBT Film/Video Festival

New Haven

Documentary Film Festival

Newport Beach, California

Newport Beach Film Festival

**Ocean Grove, New Jersey

qFest LGBT Film and Video Festival

Palm Springs

Cinema Diverse Film Festival

Philadelphia

qFLIX LGBT Film Festival

Portland, Oregon

QDoc Film Festival

Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Independent Film Festival

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​** Rochester, New York

ImageOut LGBT Film Festival

**Sacramento

Int'l LGBTQ Film Festival

**Sag Harbor, New York

Hamptons Documentary Film Festival

Salt Lake City

Utah Film Awards

**San Diego

Film Out San Diego

San Diego

International Film Festival

San Francisco

Frameline41 LGBT Film Festival

Scottsdale, Arizona

Scottsdale International Film Festival

 Seattle

TWIST:  Seattle Queer Film Festival

Sonoma, California 

OUTwatch LGBTQI Film Festival

St. Louis

QFest Film Festival

Sun Valley

International Film Festival

**Sydney

Queer Screen Film Festival

**Tampa

Int'l Gay and Lesbian Film Festival

Toronto

InsideOut Film Festival

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**Vero Beach, Florida

Film and Wine Festival

**Yonkers, New York

YoFi Fest

Zagreb, Croatia

Festival of Tolerance