The state of Indiana has just apologized for passing the first
modern eugenics law in 1907. Indiana was the leader of the
progressive pack in adopting measures to sterilize, without
consent, poor, mentally disabled, and so-called "undesirable"
citizens in the name of improving humanity's breeding stock.
We're generally horrified by that idea now – especially
following the full application of eugenics practices by the
Nazis – but in the early 20th century, the idea not only had
mainstream support, including the endorsement of the U.S.
Supreme Court, but was on the cutting edge of progressive ideas
for maintaining public health and welfare. Hitler said U.S.
eugenics and immigration laws gave him ideas for how to cleanse
Germany. The second state to jump on the eugenics bandwagon was
Washington, inspired by a proposed measure in Oregon that was
partly the result of a gay-sex scandal in Portland. In 1909,
Washington's law adopted similar language to allow forced
sterilization of the "feeble minded, insane, epilep