It’s hard to believe now, but from the time South Florida began to grow in the 1890s through World War I in the 1910s, the land boom of the 1920s, the Great Depression in the 1930s, and World War II in the 1940s, the LGBTQ population lived in relative obscurity.
There were always gay people, gay bars, clubs, and even drag shows (known then as female impersonation). It was something that existed quietly, something happening in the background, with little public discussion or interference — and everyone seemed fine with that… until 1954.
The famous ‘Homosexual Panic,’ which targeted the gay community from the 1950s through the 1980s and still has lingering effects today in South Florida, can be traced to one pivotal incident: the murder of Eastern Airlines Flight Attendant William T. Simpson in August 1954 and the sensational reporting by Miami Daily News journalist Milt Sosin.
Like most gay men at the time, Simpson led a modest life. He was 27 years old and one of many gay men working for Eastern Airlines as a flight attendant. Based in Miami, Eastern Airlines was Dade County’s largest employer at the time. Unlike many of his colleagues, Simpson often distanced himself from the “crew parties” his coworkers organized and rarely frequented the few underground gay bars in Miami. Simpson had no family nearby. He moved to Miami in 1951 from Louisville, Kentucky, attracted by the inconspicuous but present gay community and the career opportunities the city offered.
On the evening of August 2, 1954, Simpson landed at Miami International Airport after his final shift working a flight from Detroit. According to his colleague, Stewardess Dorothy Hoover, he had been in high spirits throughout the flight, mentioning several times that he had a date planned for that evening. He reportedly left his NW 4th Ave apartment around 10 pm, according to his landlord, who was the last person to see him. Two hours later, his body was found face down in the gravel by Dick Cline and his girlfriend Joan near the Arch Creek Bridge, located at NE 134th St and Biscayne Blvd. Today, Flanigan’s Bar & Grill marks the spot, but in the 1950s, this area was a popular ‘lovers lane,’ with a secluded beach where people parked along the Little Arch Creek waterway for intimate encounters.
Unbeknownst to Simpson, his date that night, Charles Lawrence, was notorious for “rolling” gay men—luring them to secluded spots, where his accomplice Lewis Killen would lie in wait. Once Lawrence had engaged the victim, Killen would emerge to help rob the unsuspecting man. Their usual pattern did not involve murder, but something went wrong with Simpson. When he did not cooperate as others had, Lawrence became spooked. They shot him in the left side. Simpson stumbled out of the car, shouting, “Leave me alone! Leave me alone!” before tossing his keys and wallet and collapsing a few yards away. Lawrence and Killen made off with $25, believing Simpson would survive, only to be surprised when the news broke the next day that he had died.
Miami Daily News reporter Milt Sosin was on the case from the moment it broke. His first article, “EAL Man Is Slain on Lovers Lane,” appeared on the front page of the August 3, 1954, afternoon edition, accompanied by a photo of Simpson’s corpse. Sosin immediately suspected Simpson was gay due to the location of the murder and the unlikelihood that a woman could have committed the crime. Even without solid evidence, he hinted at a potential connection to homosexuality and a sex crime.
The story quickly gained traction. Instead of focusing on the brutal nature of the crime, Sosin zeroed in on Simpson’s sexuality, something rarely discussed in mainstream media at the time. As police investigated a supposed “gay colony” of 20 to 30 men who might have known Simpson, they uncovered a much larger community of about 500 gay men.
On August 9, 1954, the Miami Daily News published a front-page story titled “Pervert Colony Uncovered in Simpson Slaying Probe.” The article described a large gay community in northeastern downtown Miami, where the Omni Center stands today. The article suggested Simpson had mixed with the wrong crowd, and rumors circulated that he might have been involved in ‘gay drama,’ which was speculated to be the motive behind his murder. One investigator even insinuated that Simpson’s desire to become ‘queen’ of this community could have led to his death.
Lawrence and Killen confessed to the murder, which should have closed the case on the so-called homosexual colony. However, during their trial in November 1954, they claimed that Simpson had made them feel unsafe by making unwanted advances toward Lawrence. This defense, coupled with the public fear stoked by sensational media coverage, led to the jury convicting both men of manslaughter instead of murder. They were sentenced to just 20 years in prison.
This case sparked a wave of homophobia across South Florida. Christian activist groups called on Dade County politicians to rid the area of homosexuality, leading to raids on known gay bars, clubs, and hangouts. WTVJ aired a documentary warning viewers about the dangers of homosexuals living among them. Newspapers urged people to be vigilant about their neighbors.
Even into the 1970s, when homosexuality was gaining more acceptance, people like Anita Bryant continued to block any attempts to extend basic rights to gay people, keeping alive the panic of the 1950s. Anti-gay boycotts targeted businesses like Florida Orange Juice, Coca-Cola Bottlers of Miami, Burdines, and Jordan Marsh. The AIDS crisis of the 1980s further fueled fears, associating homosexuality with danger.
Although the ‘Homosexual Panic of 1954’ left a lasting legacy of homophobia, South Florida has changed dramatically since then. Today, LGBTQ rights groups have made significant progress in reducing discrimination and profiling. While challenges remain, the South Florida of today is a far cry from the place William Simpson left behind.
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