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Though Dirksen died only shortly after the [[Stonewall Riots]], he had already spoken out against [[homosexuality]]. In 1952, he stated that the "lavender lads" (homosexual men) would be fired from the [[State Department]] if the Republican Party performed well in the elections that year.<ref>Baker, Kevin (December 6, 2016). [https://newrepublic.com/article/139169/myth-smug-liberal The Myth of the Smug Liberal]. ''The New Republic''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> That same year, he defended [[movement conservative]] and fellow [[Senator]] [[Robert Taft]] at the [[Republican National Convention]] and criticized [[Rockefeller Republican]] [[Thomas Dewey]] for his embarrassing loss to [[President]] [[Harry S. Truman]] only four years earlier.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/><ref>Documentary Fan (March 7, 2012). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrR-34t7P0U Everett Dirksen Defends Taft]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Everett-McKinley-Dirksen Everett McKinley Dirksen]. ''Britannica''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>

Though Dirksen died only shortly after the [[Stonewall Riots]], he had already spoken out against [[homosexuality]]. In 1952, he stated that the "lavender lads" (homosexual men) would be fired from the [[State Department]] if the Republican Party performed well in the elections that year.<ref>Baker, Kevin (December 6, 2016). [https://newrepublic.com/article/139169/myth-smug-liberal The Myth of the Smug Liberal]. ''The New Republic''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> That same year, he defended [[movement conservative]] and fellow [[Senator]] [[Robert Taft]] at the [[Republican National Convention]] and criticized [[Rockefeller Republican]] [[Thomas Dewey]] for his embarrassing loss to [[President]] [[Harry S. Truman]] only four years earlier.<ref name=fascinatingpolitics/><ref>Documentary Fan (March 7, 2012). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrR-34t7P0U Everett Dirksen Defends Taft]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref>[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Everett-McKinley-Dirksen Everett McKinley Dirksen]. ''Britannica''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref>

Dirksen also would be a notable opponent of pornography throughout his time in the Senate. He co-sponsored a bill to establish a Commission on Noxious and Obscene Natters and Materials that would explore methods to combat the traffic of obscene materials. He also secured approval of legislation to increase penalties for shipping obscene materials. Near the end of his life, he expressed his dismay at the increasing availability of pornography and the Warren Court's decisions regarding pornography, introducing a bill to facilitate the prosecution of those involved in the traffic of it.<ref>https://everettdirksen.dirksencenter.org/guides_emd/FormLetters1951-69/intro.htm</ref>

Dirksen also would be a notable opponent of pornography throughout his time in the Senate. He co-sponsored a bill to establish a Commission on Noxious and Obscene Natters and Materials that would explore methods to combat the traffic of obscene materials. He also secured approval of legislation to increase penalties for shipping obscene materials. Near the end of his life, he expressed his dismay at the increasing availability of pornography and the Warren Court's decisions regarding pornography, introducing a bill to facilitate the prosecution of those involved in the traffic of it.<ref>https://everettdirksen.dirksencenter.org/guides_emd/FormLetters1951-69/1969/FL1969%20PORNOGRAPHIC%20LITERATURE.pdf</ref>

In 1954, Dirksen defended<ref>[https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS3935 Joseph R. McCarthy Career Timeline]. ''Wisconsin Historical Society''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> [[Joseph McCarthy]] and voted along with 21 other mostly conservative Republicans against the [[D.C.]] [[establishment]]'s censure of Wisconsin senator<ref>Two references:

In 1954, Dirksen defended<ref>[https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS3935 Joseph R. McCarthy Career Timeline]. ''Wisconsin Historical Society''. Retrieved June 19, 2021.</ref> [[Joseph McCarthy]] and voted along with 21 other mostly conservative Republicans against the [[D.C.]] [[establishment]]'s censure of Wisconsin senator<ref>Two references: