E195. James Kirchick On The Hidden History of Gay Washington

James Kirchick stops in to talk about his new book Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. He and Bridget discuss his fascinating deep dive into the history of homosexuality in Washington D.C., his process for writing the book, how he researched it, what he uncovered, and which US President he considers the most homophobic. They also cover the Lavender Scare, writing a narrative history in an engaging way, the important role World War II played on gay consciousness in America, the dramatic transformation in public attitudes on homosexuality in the last few decades and what James attributes that to, and how he developed a real sense of gratitude as a gay man living today during the course of writing the book.