This success sparked additional efforts to repeal legislation that added sexual orientation or preference as a protected group to anti-discrimination statutes and codes.

In a step beyond repeal of anti-discrimination measures, Oklahoma and Arkansas banned gays and lesbians from teaching in public schools.

"[7] A coalition of activists including Sally Gearhart,[8] Gwenn Craig, Bill Kraus,[9] openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk,[10] teacher (later president of San Francisco Board of Supervisors) Tom Ammiano, and Hank Wilson mobilized under the slogan "Come out!

[1] A diverse group of politicians including Ronald Reagan, Jerry Brown, Gerald Ford, and then-president Jimmy Carter all opposed the bill.

[12][13] The timing of Reagan's opposition is significant because he was then preparing to run for president in the 1980 Presidential Election, a race in which he would need the support of conservatives and those moderates who were very uncomfortable with homosexual teachers.

At that very moment, he was actively courting leaders from the religious right, including Jerry Falwell, who would go on to form the Moral Majority to fight out such culture war issues the following year.

Prevailing scientific opinion is that an individual's sexuality is determined at a very early age and that a child's teachers do not really influence this.”[12] While polls initially had showed support for the initiative leading by a large margin, it was defeated heavily following opposition by the gay community and prominent conservatives, moderates, and liberals alike.