Final answer:
The statement that President Eisenhower issued an Executive Order banning gay employees from federal employment is true. Signed in 1953, Executive Order 10450 targeted gay and lesbian individuals as part of the Lavender Scare, leading to discrimination and job loss within the federal sector and beyond.
Step-by-step explanation:
President Eisenhower indeed issued an Executive Order that resulted in the banning of gay employees from federal employment. This action took place during a time of anti-communist hysteria after World War II, known as the Lavender Scare. It was in 1953 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450, which not only sought to exclude gay people from federal employment but also impacted those working for private contractors.The rationale behind this measure rested on the baseless accusation that homosexuals were more susceptible to blackmail by Communist spies due to presumed immorality and mental instability, making them security risks. This resulted in widespread discrimination and loss of employment for countless individuals in the LGBTQ community. Following Eisenhower's lead, many state and municipal governments, along with private employers, proceeded to purge gay and lesbian employees from their ranks.The main answer to the student's question is true. The discriminatory effects of this executive order were profound and far-reaching, affecting not just federal employees but also those in various other sectors who followed the federal example. It wasn't until many years later that progress toward non-discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity would begin to emerge, with subsequent presidents signing orders to protect LGBTQ individuals in the federal workforce and among federal contractors.
Conclusion So to clarify, it is true that President Eisenhower issued an executive order that explicitly banned gay and lesbian individuals from federal employment, contributing significantly to the discrimination and stigmatization faced by the LGBTQ community during that era.