Her “Save Our Children” coalition promoted the ideology that homosexuality was sinful and homosexuals were child predators. She campaigned to repeal a non-discrimination ordinance in Dade County, Florida. Anita Bryant, a former Miss Oklahoma, became an outspoken opponent of gay rights and homosexuality. This event is heralded as the beginning of the gay rights movement–a seminal moment marked by annual Pride celebrations.
![best gay bar san antonio reddit best gay bar san antonio reddit](https://i0.wp.com/sanantonioreport.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hap-Veltman-County-Film-Still-6-2019.jpg)
The square-off between members of the queer community and police ignited tense interactions over several days. LGBT Pride celebrations are rooted in an annual commemoration of the Stonewall Riots that occurred in June of 1969 in Greenwich Village, N.Y. Gene Elder papers, Entrapment Operations in San Antonio Parks, Linda and Cynthia Phillips papers, San Antonio Lesbian Gay Assembly (SALGA), LGBTQ Publications Digital Collection The collections offer opportunities for researches to investigate often-underrepresented facets of local history. Many of UTSA Libraries Special Collections LGBTQ materials originate from the work of local activists. thrust gay rights into the national spotlight and fortified calls for equality and an end to discrimination against gays and lesbians. However, the action combined with other protests across the U.S. This local protest may have seemed like a minor effort launched by a small segment of the queer community. (I guess “praying for those that persecute you” must be unchristian at religious rallies.)Īnita Bryant Prayer, MS 428, Gene Elder papers I felt this was a very brave act on my part, being 28 at that time, acting alone, and I chose to protest Anita’s march across America in this fashion. I was promptly escorted out by security who saw my passing the flyers down the rows as disruptive. He created the “Anita Bryant Prayer” which he passed out at the venue where Bryant was speaking. Gene Elder, artist and activist, took the local protest a step further. Many who helped pay for the ad allowed their names to be published while others who could not afford to be openly identified, chose to remain anonymous. For members of the gay and lesbian community, Bryant’s homophobic rhetoric echoed that of past ruthless dictators and hate groups and thus she was depicted alongside Hitler, Stalin, and others. Veltman secured the rights to use the image as part of the SA Express-News advertisement. The image in the advertisement, originally published in Time magazine in 1977, shows a protest march against Anita Bryant in San Francisco.
![best gay bar san antonio reddit best gay bar san antonio reddit](https://img.texasmonthly.com/2013/01/brutsch.jpg)
When Bryant was invited to speak at a rally in San Antonio, gay business entrepreneur Hap Veltman sent out a community call-to-action.Īnita Bryant protest advertisement, MS 428 Gene Elder papers In 1978, members of San Antonio’s gay community entered into the fray, taking on Anita Bryant, beauty queen, singer, and prominent anti-homosexual spokesperson. While the Stonewall riots of 1969 served as a catalyst for gay liberation, activists and activism that came in its wake waged incremental skirmishes against homophobia and discrimination. As floats glide down city streets and drag divas wave to adoring, celebrating throngs as same-sex parents with children and doggies sporting rainbow scarves in tow enjoy family friendly Pride picnics as panelists discuss coming out and homophobia–how many recall the brave moments of activism that paved the way for today’s Pride panoply?
![best gay bar san antonio reddit best gay bar san antonio reddit](https://i0.wp.com/instinctmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/IMG_1093.jpg)
The three Pride p’s–parades, picnics, and panel discussions–ubiquitous manifestations of queer visibility, play out across the U.S. During the month of June, LGBTI Pride festivities abound.