The Trump administration has removed from the State Department Web site 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.

Kerry apologized and acknowledged the existence of discriminatory practices within the State Department targeted toward eliminating homosexuals within the organization. Agencies, like the CIA, would filter out perceived LGBTQ employees on the grounds that homosexuality could be used as leverage by foreign adversaries.

The apology, according to a report on GAYRVA.com, was online until today.

“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 Web sites. On the same day of President Trump’s inauguration, the new administration also removed every mention of LGBTQ people from the White House Web site 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 Web site was posted here prior to its removal.