Orchestrated campaigns by cultural institutions and public figures have instilled anti-LGBTQ prejudice into American culture by shaping public opinion. Propaganda films in the 1960s warned parents of "predatory characters" in local parks, while Anita Bryant's 1970s campaign spread fear about sexual abnormalities corrupting the nation and its children. The 1980s AIDS pandemic exacerbated fears, and "making fun" of those who were different led to anger, fear, violence, and murder.
HOMO.SAY.WHAT
The origins of homophobia are deeply embedded in societal norms and collective reinforcement, leading to a gradual acceptance of anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes in the public sphere.
