The Lavender Bans

By: Dorian Rhea Debussy

This book is a comprehensive account of the evolution of anti-LGBTQ+ policies from World War I to the present. Dorian Rhea Debussy examines six distinct periods of exclusion over the course of a century, tracing continuities and changes alongside the growth of the national security state. Meticulously researched and rich in detail, The Lavender Bans sheds light on a long and troubling history—with deep contemporary relevance. It is an engaging, important, and timely book for a range of readers, including scholars, students, policy makers, military personnel, and people affected by anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Dorian Rhea Debussy is the director of external affairs at Equitas Health. A nationally recognized expert in LGBTQ+ politics, she specializes in healthcare and defense policy. Debussy is a lecturer in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies at the Ohio State University.