Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs - Ep. 2: Defend Our Children

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4 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 29 May 2024

⏱️ 51 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1977, John Briggs was a small-time state senator with big dreams. But Briggs’ plan to ban gay and lesbian teachers from California schools changed the arc of his life and career. Suddenly, he was a right-wing hero, and a villain of the gay rights movement. And his message seemed to be catching on all over the country. Season 9 of Slow Burn was written and produced by Christina Cauterucci. Slow Burn is produced by Kelly Jones, Joel Meyer, and Sophie Summergrad. Josh Levin is the editorial director of Slow Burn. Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts. Susan Matthews is Slate’s executive editor. Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. We had engineering help from Patrick Fort and Madeline Ducharme. Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones, based on an image of Silvana Nova and a poster designed by Larry Hermsen and the Too Much Graphics Collective. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Before we get started, a heads up. This episode contains sexual content, strong language, and a gay slur.
0:07.0	It may not be appropriate for some listeners.
0:10.0	Why don't you start by telling me your name and what you do now? My name is Ron Briggs and I'm
0:18.5	looking for work. Political consulting is what I do actually, which is always looking for work.
0:25.4	And on your dad's campaign, what did you do?
0:29.6	Yeah, I was the gopher.
0:31.6	Ron's dad was John Briggs. Yeah, I was the gopher.
0:39.0	Ron's dad was John Briggs, the California State Senator who was pushing a plan to ban gay teachers. It is not a question of civil rights or human rights, but it is one of parents' rights and simply
0:47.0	one of morality.
0:49.2	In 1977, Briggs was hoping to harness the anti-gay backlash that Anita Bryant had instigated in Florida.
0:56.0	And it seemed to be working.
0:59.0	Even though Briggs's gay teacher ban was still just an unofficial proposal and hadn't been placed on the
1:04.0	ballot. He quickly became a leader of the national movement to restrict gay life.
1:08.3	Well my friend if you are not aware that children are the target for conversion into the homosexual way of life,
1:18.4	I don't think there's any way of reaching you.
1:21.2	In California, John Briggs was drumming up support for his campaign, and it was up to Ron Briggs to help him.
1:27.0	He drove his dad around the state and opened mail at his district office.
1:31.0	Ron was just 20 years old and already married with a kid, so he really
1:36.9	needed the gig. I went to all the fundraisers. Went to the events. I was never excluded from any meetings.
1:44.4	Ron knew his dad was becoming an enemy of the gay rights movement,
1:48.3	but he didn't understand the full extent of it until one day in the fall of 1977. That's when Briggs's
1:55.2	district office in Orange County got an unusual visitor, the head of the
	...

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