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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/Specialist-Clue3029 on 2026-07-14 04:32:51+00:00.

I'm an older gay guy who remembers a tougher time. Graduating high school in 1976 I didn't even want the diploma I was just glad to have survived the 4 years where I felt like some alien and so glad to move right away from the sticks to Hell's Kitchen NYC where to my great relief, life was different, better. I had a tribe and discovered the love that dare not speak its name now has a problem shutting the fuck up. I bloomed.

Homophobia on all fronts, all. In the south a former beauty queen launched a nasty campaign, Save Our Children, playing on the worst and most hurtful myths, gay men as pedophiles, and calling for their removal from education. Anita Bryant had wild levels of support. I loved children, had nieces and nephews who love me, I was funcle before that word ever existed. My first gay pride parade 1977 NYC I was out loud and proud - Anita! you liar! set your hair on fire! A few of us wore big stylish bouffant wigs and heavy makeup. And felt solidarity with our brothers and sisters and at Pride throughout the country, a big clap back.

So life went on and I moved to Boston. I built a simple life with a man I loved. Found my way in the larger world and when it came time became an activist for people with AIDS and the next level of engagement, all the stigma and homophobia surrounding a bug that was decimating my tribe and quite a few who weren't my tribe, straight facing people who carried an extra burden. All I'll say about it is that the AIDS epidemic was the defining moment of my life. From that day forward I don't have problems, I have puzzles, things to figure out when you have the luxury of life.

So, cut to 1992. I'm driving to my chiropractor's office up Mass Ave in Cambridge MA, jokingly called the Peoples Republic of Cambridge at the time, and see a red civic with this bumper sticker: ANITA WAS RIGHT

I got real hot. The nerve and in my back yard. I pulled up next to her at the stop light and gave her the finger, saying loud enough she must have heard it, fuck you! Anita was wrong!! She looked stunned by this and I thought good.

Flustered myself when I went to my appointment, I told my chiropractor can you believe this woman had the nerve to drive up Mass Ave advertising her hatred? She looked right at me and said, Steven, she's talking about Anita Hill.

I died multiple levels. Spent a week driving around looking for a blond woman in a red civic but to no avail.

TL;DR you get so committed to a cause you can lose some objectivity especially as times change. Get your Anitas right.