Today, HRC released the following statement after it was discovered that the Trump Administration has removed from the State Department website former Secretary of State John Kerry’s apology for the infamous “Lavender Scare” witch hunt in the 1950s and 1960s, as well as other content regarding LGBTQ pride month observances and the State Department’s Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons.

"With each passing hour, the Trump administration continues to show the extent of their contempt for the enormous progress made over the past eight years," said HRC President Chad Griffin. "Secretary Kerry's apology to LGBTQ employees and their families who were targeted, harassed, and fired set the right tone for the State Department, even if it couldn't undo the damage done decades ago. It is outrageous that the new administration would attempt to erase from the record this historic apology for witch hunts that destroyed the lives of innocent Americans. The apology, along with the other important LGBTQ content that has been removed, should immediately be restored, and President Trump should condemn such behavior at all departments and agencies.”

The Trump administration appears to be systematically scrubbing the progress made for LGBTQ people from official websites. On the same day of President Trump’s inauguration, the new administration also removed every mention of LGBTQ people from the White House website and removed the Department of Labor’s crucial report on LGBTQ worker rights. In the past, Vice President Mike Pence has consistently opposed efforts by the United States to promote LGBTQ equality around the globe.

Secretary Kerry’s apology can be found here via an archive captured by Wayback Machine. The apology on the State Department website was posted here prior to its removal.