Briggs Initiative facts for kids

California Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, was a special vote in California on November 7, 1978. It was a proposal that did not pass.

This initiative was put forward by John Briggs, a politician from Orange County. If it had passed, it would have stopped people who were openly gay or who supported gay rights from working in California's public schools.

Many people spoke out against this proposal. Harvey Milk, a politician from San Francisco, strongly opposed it. Even California Governor Ronald Reagan and U.S. President Jimmy Carter were against it. At first, many polls showed that a lot of people supported the initiative. However, a wide range of groups, including the LGBT community, conservatives, and liberals, worked together to defeat it.

What Was Proposition 6?

Proposition 6 was a proposed law in California. It aimed to prevent people who were gay or who supported gay rights from being teachers or other staff in public schools. This meant that if someone was openly gay, or if they spoke up for gay rights, they could have been fired or not hired for school jobs.

The idea behind it was that some people believed gay teachers would somehow harm students. However, many others argued that this was unfair and a form of discrimination.

Who Was John Briggs?

John Briggs was a legislator from Orange County. He was a conservative politician. He believed that the initiative was necessary to protect children. He was the main person who sponsored, or put forward, Proposition 6.

Who Fought Against It?

Many people and groups worked hard to stop Proposition 6 from passing.

Harvey Milk's Role

Harvey Milk was a very important politician in San Francisco. He was one of the first openly gay elected officials in the United States. He strongly believed in equal rights for all people. Milk became a leading voice against Proposition 6, giving speeches and organizing people to vote no. He argued that the initiative was unfair and would hurt many good teachers and school workers.

Support from Leaders

Even though John Briggs was a conservative, some other important conservative leaders also opposed the initiative.

• California Governor Ronald Reagan, who later became President, spoke out against Proposition 6. He said that while he didn't support homosexuality, he also didn't believe in firing people just because of their personal lives. He thought it was wrong to take away someone's job based on their identity.
• U.S. President Jimmy Carter also opposed the initiative. He believed in fairness and equal treatment for all citizens.

Working Together

The fight against Proposition 6 brought together many different kinds of people.

• The LGBT community and their allies worked very hard. They organized protests, shared information, and encouraged people to vote no.
• Surprisingly, many conservatives and liberals also joined forces. This showed that the idea of fairness and not discriminating against people was important to a wide range of Californians.

Why Did It Fail?

Even though early polls showed a lot of support for Proposition 6, it was defeated on November 7, 1978. About 58% of voters said no to the initiative.

The main reasons it failed were:

• The strong efforts of activists like Harvey Milk and the LGBT community.
• The opposition from well-known political figures like Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter, which helped change public opinion.
• A growing understanding that discrimination against any group of people was wrong.

The defeat of Proposition 6 was a big moment for LGBT rights in California and across the United States. It showed that people could come together to fight against discrimination and protect the rights of all individuals.

Images for kids

• 

  November 1978: Supporters march in Sydney, Australia to protest the Briggs Initiative.

See also

In Spanish: Iniciativa Briggs para niños