GovernmentleadersbegantoattackgaypeopleasathreattoAmericansocietyandtoclaimthattheywereunreliableorevenuntrustworthy，especiallyascivilservants.In1950，acommitteeoftheUnitedStatesSenatecitedsuchreasonswhenitrecommendedthathomosexualsbebannedfromgovernmentemployment，civilianaswellasmilitary，andthousandsofgaypeopleandpeoplesuspectedofbeinggaylosttheirgovernmentjobsasaresult.Thegovernmentalsopassedlawsprohibitingrestaurants，bars，andcabaretsfromservinghomosexuals，andinmanycities，thepolicebeganarrestinglargenumbersofgaypeopleandshuttingdowntheplaceswheretheygathered.
Thenewwaveofdiscriminatorylawsandregulationsputgaypeopleinadifficultposition.Antigaygovernmentpoliciesforcedgaypeopletohidetheirhomosexualityinordertoprotecttheirlivelihoodsandsocialrespect，butthefactthattheyconcealedsomethingsoimportantaboutthemselvesmadethemseemsecretive，untrustworthy，anddangeroustooutsiders.