America’s ”Ugly Laws” (1860-1970) and NON-Creep Gypsy Rose Blanchard

What a Creep
Season 23, Episode 3

The history of ‘ugly laws’ in America (1860-1970) & NON-Creep Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Laws are supposed to protect us, but from the 1860s to the 1970s, many cities nationwide had so-called “ugly laws.” The name makes it sound like the police were walking around and deciding if people were attractive enough to be in public, but ugly laws were a way to criminalize being poor or homeless and/or having disabilities and disfigurements. And played a part in the racial segregation of public facilities, immigration bans for the “unfit,” and the eugenics movement.

Sources for this episode:

• “The Ugly Laws: Disability in Public” by Susan Schweik
• Grunge
• Medium article by Yewande Ade
• Mother Jones
• PBS
• SFGate
• Wikipedia

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