Ep: 90 - Confession: The Clash of Anita Bryant, a Pie, Gay Rights, and the Moral Majority
Welcome to our limited series, Confession. In the late 1970s, America witnessed a dramatic clash between the rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and the surge of religious conservatism led by figures like Anita Bryant and Jerry Falwell. Bryant, a celebrated orange juice spokeswoman turned anti-gay crusader, launched the infamous “Save Our Children” campaign, arguing that LGBTQ+ rights endangered traditional family values. Her rhetoric galvanized the Moral Majority, co-founded by Falwell, which rallied religious conservatives into a political force that would reshape American politics. However, this wave of opposition ignited a powerful response from activists like Thomas Higgins, a fearless advocate who not only coined the term "Gay Pride" but also famously protested Bryant by pieing her in the face, making headlines nationwide. Grab an apple vodka cocktail and join us!
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