One of the most consequential moments in American civil rights history has been almost entirely forgotten. It was 1978. Conservative politicians wanted to ban gays and lesbians from working in California public schools. The outcome of that statewide initiative would have huge repercussions for the rest of the country, and young gay activists knew it. The battle was on.

And although it's been almost fifty years, their victory has surprising and urgent relevance for LGBTQ+ communities today. Journalist Christina Cauterucci tells the incredible story as host of season 9 of Slate's podcast, Slow Burn: Gays Against Briggs. 

 

Complete transcript available here at relationscapes.org. 

 

SHOW NOTES

• Slow Burn, season 9: "Gays Against Briggs."

 

ABOUT THE GUEST Christina Cauterucci is a Slate senior writer and a host of Outward, Slate's podcast on queer life.