#Proposition6, also known as #TheBriggsInitiative, was introduced in 1978 by #conservative #California #statesenator #JohnBriggs. This #initiative aimed to #ban #gays and #lesbians, and possibly their #supporters, from #working in California's #publicschools.

The measure was rooted in the #fear and #prejudice that #gay #teachers would negatively #influence #children and #promote the "#homosexuallifestyle."

— (1/10)

The #initiative faced strong opposition from various #civilrights groups, #educators, and #LGBTQ+ #advocates, including #HarveyMilk, the first #openlygay #elected #official in #California. Milk and others argued that the #Proposition was #discriminatory and based on unfounded #fears.

As the #campaign against #Proposition6 intensified, #activists realized that #traditional #campaigning might not be sufficient.

— (2/10)

Given the widespread #prejudice and #misinformation about #LGBTQ+ people at the time, they needed more #personal and #direct #tactics to sway #publicopinion.

One deeply personal tactic involved LGBTQ+ individuals publicly #comingout and #sharing their #stories. This approach aimed to #humanize the #issue, #dispel #myths, and create #empathy by showing #voters that #LGBTQ+ people were their #neighbors, #friends, #familymembers, and #coworkers.

— (3/10)

#HarveyMilk strongly advocated for this #strategy, famously urging people to #comeout to everyone they knew. He believed that #personalconnections would reduce support #for #discriminatory #measures like #Proposition6.

Ultimately, the #visibility and #personalstories of #LGBTQ+ people played a #crucial role in the campaign. #Proposition6 was #defeated at the #polls, marking a significant #victory for the #LGBTQ+ #rights #movement and setting a #precedent for future #activism.

— (4/10)

Similarities with the #MoralPanic of Today

Today, the #LGBTQ+ #community is facing a resurgence of #hate and #bigotry similar to the one during #TheBriggsInitiative #era. Several #factors highlight these similarities:

#Epidemic of #Hateful #Legislation #Targeting #LGBTQ+ Individuals: Just as #Proposition6 aimed to #ban #LGBTQ+ #individuals from #publicschool #jobs, modern #legislation in #RedStates seeks to #restrict #LGBTQ+ #rights, particularly targeting #transgender individuals.

— (5/10)

#Laws #banning #genderaffirming #healthcare for #minors and #prohibiting #transgender #athletes from #participating in #sports consistent with their #genderidentity are #examples of this new wave of #discriminatory #legislation​.

#Disinformation and #Fearmongering:

Both eras have seen a significant amount of disinformation and fearmongering used to justify these #discriminatorymeasures.

— (6/10)

In the 1970s, there was a pervasive #fear that #LGBTQ+ #individuals would #corrupt #children. Today, similar #rhetoric is being used, suggesting that #exposure to #LGBTQ+ #identities is #harmful to #youngpeople and that discussing these #identities in #schools equates to "#grooming"​.

Community #Division and #Mobilization:

The #LGBTQ+ #community has faced #internaldivisions and the need for #strong, #unified #responses in both eras.

— (7/10)

The #RichardPryor #comedy #set incident #highlighted #divisions within the #community during the #Briggs #campaign, and today, there are ongoing #debates within the #LGBTQ+ #community on the best #strategies to counter #modern #legislative #attacks. Despite these #divisions, both periods have seen significant #mobilization and #advocacy #efforts to #protect and #advance #LGBTQrights.

— (8/10)