Slow Burn: Defend Our Children
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Slate
3.9 • 1.1K Ratings
🗓️ 19 June 2024
⏱️ 49 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Happy Juneteenth! What Next resumes regularly scheduled programming tomorrow, but for the holiday, check out this episode of Slow Burn Season 9: Gays Against Briggs.
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.
Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock the first five episodes of Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs. Your subscription also gets you ad-free access to all your favorite Slate podcasts, plus other member exclusive content. Join now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Subscribe” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/slowburnplus to get access wherever you listen.
Season 9 of Slow Burn was written and produced by Christina Cauterucci. Slow Burn is produced by Joel Meyer, Sophie Summergrad, and Kelly Jones.
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.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey everyone, it is Juneteenth. |
| 0:08.1 | That means the What Next crew is off for the holiday. |
| 0:11.0 | But we are still bringing you an episode. |
| 0:13.3 | This time it's the second episode of the latest slow burn season, Gaze versus Briggs. |
| 0:20.2 | This season chronicles one of the most consequential |
| 0:22.7 | civil rights battles in American history, the first ever statewide vote on gay rights. |
| 0:28.5 | In this episode, host Christina Cotarucci profiles John Briggs, a small-time state senator with a |
| 0:34.0 | big dream to ban all gay teachers from California schools. His mission made him an |
| 0:39.5 | instant celebrity on the right. And if you've been following the news, chances are that the |
| 0:44.1 | language from his campaign is going to sound pretty familiar. All right, here's the show. |
| 0:50.7 | Before we get started, a heads up. This episode contains sexual content, strong language, and a gay slur. |
| 0:57.7 | It may not be appropriate for some listeners. |
| 1:01.3 | Why don't you start by telling me your name and what you do now? |
| 1:05.6 | My name is Ron Briggs and I'm looking for work. |
| 1:13.1 | Political consulting is what I do, actually, |
| 1:15.7 | which is always looking for work. |
| 1:19.7 | And on your dad's campaign, what did you do? |
| 1:21.8 | Yeah, I was the gopher. |
| 1:25.6 | Ron's dad was John Briggs, |
| 1:29.3 | 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 one of morality. |
| 1:38.3 | In 1977, Briggs was hoping to harness the anti-gay backlash that Anita Bryant had instigated in Florida. |
| 1:46.0 | And it seemed to be working. |
... |
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