How Florida legally terrorized gay students

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  • čas přidán 3. 11. 2019
  • The hidden history of a Florida witch hunt.
    Help our reporting on hidden histories. Submit a story idea here: bit.ly/2RhjxMy
    Starting in the 1950s, a Florida state committee spent years stalking, intimidating, and outing hundreds of LGBTQ people. And they got away with it. Amid a national witch hunt for communists and an ascendant civil rights movement, a group of Florida politicians with a mission to preserve racial segregation in the state created a powerful group called the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee.
    Commonly called the "Johns Committee" for the influential state senator Charley Johns who spearheaded it, the Committee went after civil rights activists by arguing they were backed by communists. But when those investigations failed, they turned to a new group to target: LGBTQ people. Today, over 50 years later, some Florida legislators are calling for the state to finally come to terms with this part of its history.
    Note: The headline on this piece has been updated.
    Previous headline: When Florida had a committee to terrorize gay people
    In the Vox series Missing Chapter, Vox Senior Producer Ranjani Chakraborty revisits underreported and often overlooked moments from the past to give context to the present. Join her as she covers the histories that are often left out of our textbooks. Our first season tackles stories of racial injustice, political conflicts, even the hidden history of US medical experimentation.
    Have an idea for a story that Ranjani should investigate for Missing Chapter? Send it to her via this form! bit.ly/2RhjxMy
    Sign up for the Missing Chapter newsletter to stay up to date with the series: vox.com/missing-chapter
    Explore the full Missing Chapter playlist, including episodes, a creator Q&A, and more! • Missing Chapter - Vox
    To learn more, check out some of our sources below:
    Our DocumentCloud folder with the Florida state archives we used in the piece: www.documentcloud.org/search/...
    Judith Poucher’s book on the history of the Johns Committee, “State of Defiance:
    Challenging the Johns Committee's Assault on Civil Liberties” - upf.com/book.asp?id=POUCH003
    Stacy Braukman’s book on the history of the Johns Committee, “Communists and Perverts under the Palms” - upf.com/book.asp?id=BRAUK001
    Karen L. Graves’ book on the Johns Committee’s purges of K-12 teachers, “And They Were Wonderful Teachers” - www.press.uillinois.edu/books...
    Watch the documentary, “The Committee,” on the history of the Johns Committee: www.pbs.org/show/committee/
    Check out the documentary “Behind Closed Doors,” on the history of the committee: www.behindcloseddoorsfilm.com/...
    Read about the push for a state apology by Florida State Rep. Evan Jenne and State Sen. Lauren Book: www.tallahassee.com/story/new...
    Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what's really driving the events in the headlines. Check out www.vox.com.
    Watch our full video catalog: goo.gl/IZONyE
    Follow Vox on Facebook: goo.gl/U2g06o
    Or Twitter: goo.gl/XFrZ5H

Komentáře • 3,2K

  • @OrbitalBliss
    @OrbitalBliss Před 4 lety +13085

    "It was a low degree of terror."
    This man could barely choke out those words a half century later...
    Low degree? I don't think so.

    • @rahuldhargalkar
      @rahuldhargalkar Před 4 lety +205

      😢 I can't even begin to imagine

    • @graykeenenight.4571
      @graykeenenight.4571 Před 4 lety +595

      i thought he meant "low" as a signifier of how "low" the actions were morally. like, it was an immoral degree of terror.

    • @derpderpson8803
      @derpderpson8803 Před 4 lety +265

      Imagine if everytime you meet someone you have to wonder if your being set up...very lonely

    • @cyrene7784
      @cyrene7784 Před 4 lety +51

      I imagine that was what life was like for blacks in the southern states back then.

    • @WhompingWalrus
      @WhompingWalrus Před 4 lety +67

      @@cyrene7784 "Hey roommate you aren't black, are you?"

  • @SaltySparrow
    @SaltySparrow Před 4 lety +7222

    Could you imagine having to question if every single person you engage with is a plant by some organization?

    • @jasonm7973
      @jasonm7973 Před 4 lety +23

      Yes.

    • @chibi013
      @chibi013 Před 4 lety +156

      People STILL have to question whether people in their lives are plants from the government. Try googling "UK police activists scandal" sometime. It's horrifying.

    • @knecht6974
      @knecht6974 Před 4 lety +165

      I live in germany. The stasi had 200.000 "inofficial coworkers" as they called them (in a country with 16 million people). Anyone could be working for them. Your teachers, bosses and anyone higher up the ladder HAD to cooperate with them. If your family or your friends had any refigees to west germany, you were under investigation too. They hid microphones in your home and drilled camera holes in hotel rooms. If you were cought planing an escape or talking bad about the goverment, they would blackmail you into becoming a spy too otherwise years of prision including sensory deprivation torture. This was exactly 30 years ago.

    • @zain4019
      @zain4019 Před 4 lety +1

      Marius Banik
      Wow:(

    • @artcopleston5439
      @artcopleston5439 Před 4 lety +95

      Danekarl, you hit the point precisely. I'm the guy in the video. We never knew when we would run into one of the Johns Committee goons, and we were afraid to talk to anyone about it because we never knew who might be an undercover cop working for Johns. My roommate was a perfect example:.

  • @gerardparker4220
    @gerardparker4220 Před 4 lety +2313

    And this is only 1 person’s story.

    • @Snow-xt3rn
      @Snow-xt3rn Před 4 lety +65

      One out of many. 🙄

    • @therealog6831
      @therealog6831 Před 4 lety +53

      ned i think that's the point they're trying to make, not this is only one story so it doesn't matter

    • @farida.
      @farida. Před 4 lety +5

      Omy

    • @RomanZolanski123
      @RomanZolanski123 Před 3 lety +37

      If others don’t understand, I think OP is trying to say there is so much pain in this story and it’s only one person, imagine how much more pain stems from homophobia.

    • @Ratatatdat
      @Ratatatdat Před 2 měsíci

      So do you have information on others?

  • @derpderpson8803
    @derpderpson8803 Před 4 lety +4574

    That poor man never trusted another person and I feel so bad for him. I tear up every time he does. You can still see how hard he thinks before he speaks.

  • @oterenceo
    @oterenceo Před 4 lety +3698

    "They weren't very bright people but they have tremendous power over others, over us." Sound familiar?

    • @maxiapalucci2511
      @maxiapalucci2511 Před 4 lety +8

      oterenceo no?

    • @rahuldhargalkar
      @rahuldhargalkar Před 4 lety +177

      Of course. Rings so many bells here in India given the current political state

    • @grmpEqweer
      @grmpEqweer Před 4 lety +87

      @@rahuldhargalkar
      Sympathies extended.

    • @cam0987
      @cam0987 Před 4 lety +117

      Trump

    • @MrV1604
      @MrV1604 Před 4 lety +21

      @djnennwowwk everything is political

  • @joannot6706
    @joannot6706 Před 4 lety +13748

    This for all people who are like: "It was great back then"

    • @fonzi981
      @fonzi981 Před 4 lety +577

      Joannot i think most the people saying that would be homophobic themselves

    • @randomdude9135
      @randomdude9135 Před 4 lety +383

      Ya mean Trump voters?

    • @connorp3030
      @connorp3030 Před 4 lety +63

      Joannot do you like deliberately projecting demonising beliefs onto people? Why do you do it? You do know that they just mean it was nice when housing market and job opportunities and job progression was better don't you?

    • @connorp3030
      @connorp3030 Před 4 lety +22

      Joannot do you like deliberately projecting demonising beliefs onto people? Why do you do it? You do know that they just mean it was nice when housing market and job opportunities and job progression was better don't you?

    • @emmasimon4005
      @emmasimon4005 Před 4 lety +343

      @@connorp3030 Better for who?

  • @els1f
    @els1f Před 4 lety +3064

    "These interrogators, the investigators, they weren't very bright people, but they had tremendous power over others. Over us." Some things absolutely never change

    • @arthas640
      @arthas640 Před 4 lety +31

      alot of government positions in any government are promoted based on either party loyalty or personal loyalty to someone at the top, _not_ on any kind of merit. This is how you wind up with alot of political attack dogs, dim witted administrators, and blind supporters in the government. It's also how they help cultivate an entrenched bureaucracy and how you help to gain dominance of a single party in a given location.
      It gets kind of weird too: my local city government is hardline left wing and they often require college degrees (or internships with the government) for even menial jobs, and they almost only recruit from a select group of colleges, mainly the local liberal arts school. I had a friend who applied for a janitorial job at city hall and they denied him for not having a college degree saying it "wasn't required, but it would be preferred" and they said he should go to that same liberal arts school. Almost every job also requires you to join their employee union, which surprise, is run solely by the ruling party. They essentially only want to hire people that have the same ideology as them to guarantee party loyalty. The same goes for promotions: you almost only see hardline left wing people getting promoted or getting the best jobs. My area is roughly 60/40 left wing/right wing when it comes to civilians but over 90% of all government employees and politicians are left wing because this sort of favoritism has gone on for decades now and they're too entrenched to remove.
      As my example I'm using a left wing example, but you see the same thing happening on the right side of the political spectrum as well, in most countries.

    • @fabienherry6690
      @fabienherry6690 Před 4 lety +5

      ​@@arthas640 Man glad to see somebody using his brain and reading the situation more than "bad straight christian" "booh america" ect

    • @z1pline487
      @z1pline487 Před 3 lety +7

      *trump sweating in a corner*

    • @yeetyeet2027
      @yeetyeet2027 Před 2 lety +3

      Such a tragedy, they just ruined his social life

    • @newhorizonsforfifty2833
      @newhorizonsforfifty2833 Před rokem +4

      Kinda like what we're seeing today, isn't it?

  • @singmusic123
    @singmusic123 Před 4 lety +4437

    now I understand why lgbtq parades exist. To honor these victims and bring light to these issues.

    • @drvissierl1404
      @drvissierl1404 Před 3 lety +295

      And because there is still so much homophobia.

    • @blitszina2570
      @blitszina2570 Před 3 lety +123

      You my friend, is someone who I respect a lot because you're willing to understand
      Thanks for that

    • @hanchenhoste5725
      @hanchenhoste5725 Před 3 lety +7

      I don't see any indicators in prides of this topic, considering the limited video footage I have seen from Western countries.

    • @Grand_Works
      @Grand_Works Před 3 lety +31

      @@hanchenhoste5725 If I understand your statement correctly, that may more be in part because of what is available to your country. Though, and depending on which country you come from, CZcams will have a wealth of footage available. It's still a pretty recent development in media, but there is an almost limitless amount of media associated with LGBTQ pride and examples of it. A surprising amount considering how short a timespan it's been considered socially acceptable to broach the topic at all.

    • @sage5296
      @sage5296 Před 3 lety +39

      It's an issue alike to racial equality and women's rights, not all of them have the same backstory or the same magnitude, but generally speaking it's about a group standing up for themselves, and moving forwards from the injustices and inequalities of times past.

  • @randomdude9135
    @randomdude9135 Před 4 lety +4794

    Why isn't this taught in school?

  • @CanuckMonkey13
    @CanuckMonkey13 Před 4 lety +11533

    I just want to offer a heartfelt thanks to the gentleman who was interviewed for this video. Sir, your courage and willingness to share about what was obviously a terrible time in your life (one that apparently affects you to this day) is invaluable to those of us who might otherwise have trouble connecting with that time and those events.

    • @proto-nm9hr
      @proto-nm9hr Před 4 lety +75

      How stunning so brave im stunned by how brave it is

    • @jamesdaugherty2339
      @jamesdaugherty2339 Před 4 lety +97

      This man gives me hope, and makes me want to be proud of who I am in his honor!

    • @beef-jerky
      @beef-jerky Před 4 lety +4

      He better be pushing that, after all it is his party that did this, and are still doing it in ways most people won't think of it as that

    • @HelgaCavoli
      @HelgaCavoli Před 4 lety +45

      I felt so much like giving him a big long hug.
      I'm so sorry, sir, for what you went through.

    • @artcopleston5439
      @artcopleston5439 Před 4 lety +98

      Thank you,@@jamesdaugherty2339. I'm the guy in the video.

  • @Ashley-rs3gz
    @Ashley-rs3gz Před 3 lety +2712

    Imagine hating someone because of their sexuality that has absolutely nothing to do with you.. lol

    • @user-ge9tm5rr5f
      @user-ge9tm5rr5f Před 3 lety +153

      Republicans :/

    • @blahajenjoyer208
      @blahajenjoyer208 Před 3 lety +196

      @@user-ge9tm5rr5f there are some republicans who are open minded. Well I've only found like 4, so.

    • @nynydabarbie
      @nynydabarbie Před 3 lety +2

      Erin K lol

    • @steverogers6825
      @steverogers6825 Před 3 lety +21

      @@user-ge9tm5rr5f Pretty much, yeah.

    • @KristinA-xv4yk
      @KristinA-xv4yk Před 3 lety +5

      What does the moral fabric of society have to do with you, bro? Just live and let live, bro.
      Nein.

  • @ryanphillips5072
    @ryanphillips5072 Před 4 lety +3938

    Boomer: it was so much better when I was younger

    • @arthas640
      @arthas640 Před 4 lety +237

      well yeah, most "boomers" are straight white people, and they're either former hippies who became middle/upper class or they were people who were always middle/upper class

    • @nab.7250
      @nab.7250 Před 4 lety +75

      Arthas Menethil how are boomers mostly white? Boomer is a generation not an ideology.

    • @jasmim9194
      @jasmim9194 Před 4 lety +93

      @@nab.7250 boomer is a state of mind, you can be a boomer even if your 20

    • @kaisersingh5827
      @kaisersingh5827 Před 4 lety +4

      Ry Phi ok zoomer

    • @jasmim9194
      @jasmim9194 Před 4 lety +6

      @Mr. Turnenkof oh i see the type of person u are

  • @gabes2202
    @gabes2202 Před 4 lety +3346

    I want to give that man a hug after what he went through

    • @severusfloki5778
      @severusfloki5778 Před 4 lety +17

      Careful there 👀

    • @roseluman2890
      @roseluman2890 Před 4 lety +14

      I just feel so bad

    • @rahuldhargalkar
      @rahuldhargalkar Před 4 lety +19

      I'd hug him.

    • @user-oc2ub1cy8v
      @user-oc2ub1cy8v Před 4 lety +2

      Tristan_ melfi13 like what a tight hug?

    • @joanam3070
      @joanam3070 Před 4 lety +11

      Poor guy, I hope he could have a bit of freedom in the last years. Discrimination has to end. It only causes suffering and it is against societies progressing.

  • @user-sn6jv5dv9s
    @user-sn6jv5dv9s Před 4 lety +5683

    And people say that we became too sensitive and the past was better. Human society disgusts me. Homophobes are lunatics.

    • @Trund27
      @Trund27 Před 4 lety +23

      Martín Mejía This.

    • @bobbaeba
      @bobbaeba Před 4 lety +355

      Robert Not all religious people are homophobic and not all homophobes are religious, but all homophobes bad people 🤔🤔🤔

    • @edmundprice5276
      @edmundprice5276 Před 4 lety +202

      @@bobbaeba but religion is the seed, prejudice and discrimination is the plant

    • @eltiochusma
      @eltiochusma Před 4 lety +260

      @@Robert-dh1yj It would be great if these "views" stopped where other peoples' rights begin, but TIME AND TIME again religious people are unable to keep their views to themselves.

    • @Tenatic-X
      @Tenatic-X Před 4 lety +187

      It is true that you guys have different views of homosexuality. But it's when you guys start actively harassing or forcefully shove your own opinions of your disgust with homosexuality, is when issues start to arise.

  • @ThatLadyDray
    @ThatLadyDray Před 4 lety +656

    That poor man is still in pain all these years later. I hope y'all offered to set him up with a trauma counselor if he didn't have one already.

    • @madisongreen8913
      @madisongreen8913 Před 4 lety +13

      It is almost too late, they need to debrief him, it is truly disgusting what happened to this poor man

  • @dabdabthesecond5962
    @dabdabthesecond5962 Před 4 lety +2456

    I’m going to forward this to everyone who wants a straight pride

    • @liltree8382
      @liltree8382 Před 4 lety +20

      Dabdab The second Straight Pride WorldWide🙌

    • @kaisersingh5827
      @kaisersingh5827 Před 4 lety +18

      Erdoğan Keleş im pretty sure lgbts have the same rights as hetros

    • @potatosaredead2233
      @potatosaredead2233 Před 4 lety +368

      @@kaisersingh5827 some country's can legally have you flocked or killed and some workplaces can't keep their LGBTQ workers safe from harm becuase of law

    • @brendanmccabe8373
      @brendanmccabe8373 Před 4 lety +186

      Kulraj Singh sorry but you are wrong about that chief

    • @user-rz4rw7tk9u
      @user-rz4rw7tk9u Před 4 lety +88

      Kulraj Singh absolutely not

  • @samueleveleigh2767
    @samueleveleigh2767 Před 4 lety +4497

    ah the land of the free... so long as your white, straight and capitalist

    • @joshmorton7283
      @joshmorton7283 Před 4 lety +39

      Yea its not like we have equal rights and liberties unlike 90% of the world. How in the world do you think LGBT people and non whites are not free please explain.

    • @pepps779
      @pepps779 Před 4 lety +23

      You do realize everyone in the US, above the age 18, can vote right? How is anyone's freedom being limited exactly?

    • @alyssashady
      @alyssashady Před 4 lety +7

      Look at you catching on :)

    • @lgbtqiarights
      @lgbtqiarights Před 4 lety +4

      Ivri i dont trust your judgment after reading a reply you left on a separate comment

    • @hindsightpov4218
      @hindsightpov4218 Před 4 lety +129

      W.A.S.P. = Considered the ideal American
      White
      Anglo
      Saxon
      Protestant
      * They should have added an extra “S” at the end for “Straight” to be more accurate.

  • @MeetThaNewDealer
    @MeetThaNewDealer Před 4 lety +3049

    Mike Pence and his right-wing religious zealots long for these days to return.

    • @healinggrounds19
      @healinggrounds19 Před 4 lety +353

      @Dragon1717 Russian bot revealed

    • @livindeadghoul
      @livindeadghoul Před 4 lety +304

      @Dragon1717 ok boomer

    • @bigolbugg
      @bigolbugg Před 4 lety +212

      Dragon1717 ah yes radical Islam, which has never been influential in the states, would bring back 50s era conservatism. Makes sense. It’s not like American homophobia is founded on good old judeo-christian values or anything.

    • @amireinav1
      @amireinav1 Před 4 lety +86

      Dragon1717 sure, boomer

    • @yeetman5526
      @yeetman5526 Před 4 lety +68

      Dragon1717 ok boomer

  • @MrNeilTV
    @MrNeilTV Před 4 lety +796

    I’m sorely undereducated about the history of my own community...this is shocking

    • @kaelanking2415
      @kaelanking2415 Před 4 lety +59

      me too, it's truly a shame, LGBTQ history needs to be recorded

    • @eleven-hopper
      @eleven-hopper Před 4 lety +35

      Same. I knew it was bad back then but wow

    • @farateq
      @farateq Před 3 lety +18

      same, this is horrible, i’m glad i was born in the generation i was, but i feel bad for the guy who went through that

  • @pixelpikachu6577
    @pixelpikachu6577 Před 4 lety +637

    I’d like to thank this man for forcing himself to tell such a horrific time... he really is a brave soul. More people need to know about this.

  • @starcherry6814
    @starcherry6814 Před 4 lety +1565

    The people who worked for the Johns Comittee deserve to be in jail

    • @gazzy2228
      @gazzy2228 Před 4 lety +114

      celestial rex
      Sarcasm ... right ??

    • @livindeadghoul
      @livindeadghoul Před 4 lety +161

      @@celestialrex551 unlike your parents

    • @delorbb2298
      @delorbb2298 Před 4 lety +34

      It's been over 60 years. They are probably dead.

    • @amireinav1
      @amireinav1 Před 4 lety +12

      celestial rex sure, boomer

    • @californiaslastgasp6847
      @californiaslastgasp6847 Před 4 lety +6

      @wimmisky You're comparing the murder of millions of people for their religious beliefs to an employer investing their employees, then firing them?

  • @avuhhh
    @avuhhh Před 4 lety +1553

    and to think a current politician has the audacity to use the term “witch hunt” for issues no where near this scale...

    • @HelgaCavoli
      @HelgaCavoli Před 4 lety +4

      That we know of.

    • @lilymac7858
      @lilymac7858 Před 4 lety +5

      avuhhh so true

    • @Jen-tt9yx
      @Jen-tt9yx Před 4 lety +4

      He's actually right, I'm not a Trump fan, but it has been a witch hunt. Can't think of any other president that has endured like this guy.

    • @genieglasslamp5028
      @genieglasslamp5028 Před 4 lety +50

      @@Jen-tt9yx
      How about Obama? The same people who constantly defend trump never had anything good to say about Obama.

    • @Jen-tt9yx
      @Jen-tt9yx Před 4 lety +1

      @@genieglasslamp5028 , Obama has it easy because he was black therefore, didn't endure anything.

  • @rickychacon12
    @rickychacon12 Před 3 lety +89

    It’s so weird how the US national anthem says “Land of the free” even though for hundreds of years, people of color, people who are LGBTQ, people who are women, people with mental or physical disabilities, people who practice different religions, and other minority groups have not been free to do everyday things. They have been targeted for being “different”. I don’t think that being free or equal in the US actually means free and equal.

    • @RandomInternetUser-yi5cc
      @RandomInternetUser-yi5cc Před 3 lety

      @@berreyl1689 But that would imply that everyone gets equal treatment today.

    • @kooby122
      @kooby122 Před 3 lety +7

      @@berreyl1689 you think everyone gets equal treatment today?

    • @berreyl1689
      @berreyl1689 Před 3 lety +1

      @@kooby122 nvm were still stuck in the past

    • @AbuBased731
      @AbuBased731 Před 2 lety

      What are you going to do about destroying your country because it is based on slavery, racism and homophobia?

    • @wendy_lynn
      @wendy_lynn Před 8 měsíci +1

      Everyone’s equal but some are more equal than others 😢

  • @dispersion4333
    @dispersion4333 Před 3 lety +290

    The sad part is that a lot of countries are still like this

  • @nakenmil
    @nakenmil Před 4 lety +4604

    Christ. This is what some people want back to, apparently. Or they don't care to know.

    • @randomdude9135
      @randomdude9135 Před 4 lety +12

      You should listen to Dr Richard Dawkins, Hitchens, Sam Harris, Gervais, Carlin and Neil Tyson

    • @gracezb1
      @gracezb1 Před 4 lety +127

      they know, they don’t care

    • @crouton3455
      @crouton3455 Před 4 lety +12

      They know

    • @yongkykusumo5389
      @yongkykusumo5389 Před 4 lety +7

      We want back to these period

    • @thefloridamanofytcomments5264
      @thefloridamanofytcomments5264 Před 4 lety +33

      This and special water fountains / bathrooms. The rich were actually taxed fairly in the 50’s but Cletus doesn’t know that, he only knows he had reserved seats on the bus.

  • @shannonwold638
    @shannonwold638 Před 4 lety +1333

    It's so important that Vox is making these videos. I had no idea. Although I've heard the term "Lavender Scare," I didn't get it. Horrifying and yet one more example of the abuse of another marginalized group.

  • @motherofthesacredrealm9835
    @motherofthesacredrealm9835 Před 4 lety +193

    And to think that some people have the audacity to scream “Straight Pride” because they don’t feel “included” or whatever.

    • @Helperbot-2000
      @Helperbot-2000 Před 3 lety +3

      Why wont you allow me to be proud of being born the way im supposed to to bring our species forward?

    • @laura-yd3fv
      @laura-yd3fv Před 3 lety +27

      @@Helperbot-2000 Why won’t you stop talking and stop being ignorant?

    • @Helperbot-2000
      @Helperbot-2000 Před 3 lety +2

      @@laura-yd3fv ignorant? stating facts istnt being ignorant, tell me what part of what i wrote was being ignorant?

    • @afunandfriendlyname8468
      @afunandfriendlyname8468 Před 3 lety +27

      helperbot 2000 because you don’t face persecution for it. You didn’t earn or get through or do anything the way most lgbtqia+ people have

    • @OzCroc
      @OzCroc Před 3 lety +11

      @@Helperbot-2000 You don't need to be straight to reproduce

  • @DiegoRodriguez2
    @DiegoRodriguez2 Před 4 lety +77

    I pray that man eventually loses his PTSD from that committee ):

  • @brandonallison7782
    @brandonallison7782 Před 4 lety +685

    "They weren't very bright people."
    That sort of statement kinda gets me.

    • @dariusd2003
      @dariusd2003 Před 4 lety +15

      That reminds me sadly about of government and law enforcement people with way too much power.

    • @Theonlyway1445
      @Theonlyway1445 Před 4 lety +9

      They are disgusting

    • @bowen4878
      @bowen4878 Před 4 lety

      Brandon Allison No they’re pro Biology

    • @belliotrungy9107
      @belliotrungy9107 Před 4 lety +33

      @@bowen4878 biology supports diversity actually theology treats people like dogs in a kennel 🤫

    • @baylorsmith555
      @baylorsmith555 Před 4 lety +1

      Bellio Trungy men and women are biologically meant for each other. Scientific fact.
      Theology can be wrong. Biology can’t.

  • @henrimourant9855
    @henrimourant9855 Před 4 lety +733

    Are you guys going to do a video on Mississippi's secret police, the Mississippi State Sovereignty Commission? It operated from 1956 to 1977.

    • @BJN1253
      @BJN1253 Před 4 lety +55

      That's a great topic to cover. A lot of people don't know about the Sovereignty Commission. It's probably the closet thing the U.S has ever had to the KGB or the Stasi.

    • @henrimourant9855
      @henrimourant9855 Před 4 lety +13

      @@BJN1253 I think Louisiana also had a similar agency during the 1960's.

    • @BJN1253
      @BJN1253 Před 4 lety +15

      @@henrimourant9855 It wouldn't surprise me. They had some notorious bigots over there too. Like Leander Perez. Here in Mississippi we had the likes of Ross Barnett, Paul Johnson, and James Eastland.

    • @RonWolfHowl
      @RonWolfHowl Před 4 lety +4

      @Vox Would love a response from you guys!

    • @ebonynicole660
      @ebonynicole660 Před 3 lety +5

      Ok, now I want a video!

  • @moosesandmeese969
    @moosesandmeese969 Před 3 lety +102

    That has to be horrifying knowing that there is always an organization stalking you, spying on you, interrogating you, trying to incriminate you, just because of your sexuality. No person should ever have to go through this.

  • @LiseteL
    @LiseteL Před 4 lety +136

    So, they *needed* someone to target? Wow, how disgusting.

  • @S.E.C-R
    @S.E.C-R Před 4 lety +664

    How terrifying this must have been... It is very brave if him to do this interview. Even today he still lives in fear and can’t talk about it without getting emotional. We’ve come so far but there is still a long way to go.

  • @justmhr7598
    @justmhr7598 Před 4 lety +792

    These “ christian Family Value Leaders “ have always been Monsters.

  • @TheZampa
    @TheZampa Před 4 lety +117

    Many people in the US still think "Socialist" is a insult...

    • @diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645
      @diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645 Před 4 lety +11

      it is

    • @TheZampa
      @TheZampa Před 4 lety +32

      @@diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645 it shouldnt be

    • @dagaki3793
      @dagaki3793 Před 4 lety +3

      @@TheZampa why

    • @cammiehalliday757
      @cammiehalliday757 Před 4 lety +3

      @@dagaki3793 because what's wrong with socialism

    • @1h3art_mys3lf-
      @1h3art_mys3lf- Před 4 lety +33

      Whenever people say socialism is bad they always point towards Venezuela or Cuba never too Finland Iceland Canada or other successful states with socialist policies same goes for the opposite end of the spectrum.

  • @rimut230
    @rimut230 Před 2 lety +14

    I still wonder why ending homophobia is still a debate.

  • @liamdavis2387
    @liamdavis2387 Před 4 lety +789

    I can't imagine hating someone just for their sexuality.

    • @BJN1253
      @BJN1253 Před 4 lety +75

      I know. Same goes for me. But there are truly some hateful people in this country. Many of them pretend to be followers of Christ.

    • @user-rz4rw7tk9u
      @user-rz4rw7tk9u Před 4 lety +8

      American Nightmare or Muslim

    • @laurent1144
      @laurent1144 Před 4 lety +26

      @American Nightmare There are atheists who feel this way too.

    • @moondust2365
      @moondust2365 Před 4 lety +29

      @@laurent1144 Plus there are Christians and Catholics like me who feel the opposite of homophobia.

    • @vivianarickert8230
      @vivianarickert8230 Před 4 lety +12

      I know it is physically impossible for me to even hate someone for who they love.

  • @nelsonth
    @nelsonth Před 4 lety +416

    *Straight pride organizers have left the chat*

    • @diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645
      @diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645 Před 4 lety +11

      You wish 😂

    • @bhavs398
      @bhavs398 Před 4 lety +54

      @@diabolivirtusen-tavares-ea4645 you should.

    • @404ever
      @404ever Před 4 lety +35

      TraRob-EastSide yes, I do. they’re obnoxious

    • @Helperbot-2000
      @Helperbot-2000 Před 3 lety +2

      @@bhavs398 not my fault im born the way im supposed to to bring our species forward

    • @Iucifur
      @Iucifur Před 3 lety +2

      @@Helperbot-2000 ???????

  • @soshowme9405
    @soshowme9405 Před 4 lety +56

    as a bisexual, my heart breaks for this man. no one should’ve ever gone through this. but i’m also terrified for my future as my us exchange program starts jan 2020.....

    • @jessy1982
      @jessy1982 Před rokem +3

      Hey. How did the exchange program go? Id imagine the biggest issue was covid, right?

    • @The_slaya_of_nutcases
      @The_slaya_of_nutcases Před 4 měsíci

      Hey am a bisexual too! It's so cool to meet a other bisexual

    • @CursedCommentaries
      @CursedCommentaries Před 3 měsíci +1

      ​@@The_slaya_of_nutcaseslol they are the most common letter of the "alphebet"

  • @shanubag6785
    @shanubag6785 Před 3 lety +11

    The word "legally terrorized" is itself terrifying

  • @NoelRose2912
    @NoelRose2912 Před 4 lety +150

    I just want to give the interviewee, Art, a hug. I can't even imagine the constant terror and anxiety on top of the fear of being outted back then.

  • @hitdafolkslikyahh9100
    @hitdafolkslikyahh9100 Před 4 lety +269

    Can y’all post more about things you won’t find in a history book

  • @tlouitas
    @tlouitas Před rokem +18

    The beginning when he started crying and you can hear the interviewer say, “it’s okay” broke my heart. These things affect real people and it’s so horrible to see the aftermath of such horrific events

  • @nathanaelsloan5003
    @nathanaelsloan5003 Před 3 lety +28

    And straight white southern conservative men still say MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. If you are talking about racism, homophobia, and segregation, yes. That is exactly what you are doing.

  • @fabianfarbeyond558
    @fabianfarbeyond558 Před 4 lety +187

    This is what Some consider Great America...I hope we never have to see such bigotry and hate again. Unfortunately sometimes it seems we’re headed there, especially in the south.

    • @ButterBallTheOpossum
      @ButterBallTheOpossum Před 4 lety +9

      Yet people still stay home instead of voting

    • @bowen4878
      @bowen4878 Před 4 lety

      Fabian Farbeyond 30 states are red. Red = Pro Sanity
      Pro Biology

    • @bowen4878
      @bowen4878 Před 3 lety

      @Neptune 23. Take a biology class

    • @u5654
      @u5654 Před 3 lety

      @@ButterBallTheOpossum this hasn't aged well

    • @laura-yd3fv
      @laura-yd3fv Před 3 lety +2

      @@bowen4878 What about infertile women? Are you going to yell at them to “take a biology” class?

  • @adornedlean2490
    @adornedlean2490 Před 4 lety +188

    Florida Man...

  • @TheDru78
    @TheDru78 Před 2 lety +13

    When I hear conservative Fox News viewers talk about socialism, antifa, black lives matter, or LGBTQ rights, it reminds me of this era.

    • @IOwnKazakhstan
      @IOwnKazakhstan Před 2 lety +7

      Fox News and Prager U are possibly the worst things to happen to news.

  • @Malkmusianful
    @Malkmusianful Před 4 lety +23

    my grandfather was part of the police in Tallahassee, the state capitol, back during when all of this was happening. I think he was an officer from 1962 to 1968, based on what he's told me. I have the sinking feeling that he was involved with this in some way.

  • @amandasupak
    @amandasupak Před 4 lety +64

    Poor guy who was interviewed for this. You never should have been treated that way :(

  • @jasonarmstrong5750
    @jasonarmstrong5750 Před 4 lety +138

    “What? The land of the free? Whoever told you that is your enemy!”

    • @icomarv17
      @icomarv17 Před 4 lety +3

      RAGE!

    • @BvousBrainSystems
      @BvousBrainSystems Před 4 lety +3

      I'm often reminded of RATM quotes, but it's so rare to actually see them.

  • @aprilm2056
    @aprilm2056 Před 2 lety +51

    This feels incredibly prescient in today's Florida.
    As Mark Twain once said, "History doesn't repeat itself, but it often rhymed."

  • @kaitoric
    @kaitoric Před 4 lety +85

    Though we are still not fully accepted, I'm so glad to be born into a time like this, rather than being paranoid and scared in the 1950s.

  • @leftyla
    @leftyla Před 4 lety +356

    Wow, this is heartbreaking. And what fantastic reporting!

    • @bowen4878
      @bowen4878 Před 4 lety +1

      leftyla It’s sad that people aren’t sane and pro biology

    • @link3389
      @link3389 Před 4 lety +6

      @@bowen4878 what.

    • @myamdane6895
      @myamdane6895 Před 4 lety +13

      Bowen Shut up homophobe

    • @link3389
      @link3389 Před 4 lety +4

      @@bowen4878 what. ×2

    • @allaboutmika
      @allaboutmika Před 4 lety +9

      Bowen “pro biology” wow ur so smart woAh 👏

  • @nonkululekomabaso9537
    @nonkululekomabaso9537 Před 4 lety +48

    If only as much effort was invested into ending social ills like war, colonialism and all forms of racism. I am beyond disgusted 😣

  • @ReeceMarshallPersonal
    @ReeceMarshallPersonal Před 3 lety +47

    Even today no wonder people are afraid to come out. I just wanna say, please don’t out people, it’s a complete violation of privacy and you are potentially putting someone in serious danger. It is disgusting

  • @barbielikeshermilk
    @barbielikeshermilk Před 4 lety +44

    My heart broke when teared up over telling his story. To feel that he can’t really “come out” must be heavy on his heart.

  • @cariendewildt6614
    @cariendewildt6614 Před 4 lety +41

    I just wanna give that old man a hug

  • @amynicole_3331
    @amynicole_3331 Před 4 lety +66

    Sweet man❤️ I can’t even imagine the pain of it being illegal to be yourself 😞

  • @nikoratoma4734
    @nikoratoma4734 Před 4 lety +72

    Ahhhhh Florida the state that never stops surprising me with their bigotry.

    • @okinawatim3421
      @okinawatim3421 Před 4 lety +4

      Nikora Toma what did you expect from the south?

    • @robinrinsmith
      @robinrinsmith Před 3 lety +1

      @@okinawatim3421 Yeah because we all know bigotry doesn’t exist outside the

    • @robinrinsmith
      @robinrinsmith Před 3 lety +1

      South

  • @lazypops3117
    @lazypops3117 Před 2 lety +33

    Why are conservatives unfailingly cruel?

    • @vjhreeves
      @vjhreeves Před rokem

      Uh, I guess you missed the part where Sen Charley Johns, the creator of the committee, was a DEMOCRAT.

    • @mistyjames7280
      @mistyjames7280 Před 11 měsíci

      ​@@vjhreevesthe ideologies of the parts flipped and what used to be democrat is now republican, this was around the 1980's lol

  • @dietischlampe1327
    @dietischlampe1327 Před 4 lety +58

    Did this only happen in Florida? If so then why especially in that state?

    • @Ravi-xf8dw
      @Ravi-xf8dw Před 4 lety +10

      Mostly conservative

    • @bowtieproductions6708
      @bowtieproductions6708 Před 4 lety +31

      I doubt it was just in florida, but these things are coming to light, and vox chose to focus on florida specifically, instead of going too general and losing the personal impact these events had.

  • @aerolchristopherinfante
    @aerolchristopherinfante Před 4 lety +54

    I love thes Missing Chapter, for it gives us more dark sides of history rarely if not shown on books and taught in schools.

  • @LoreEclectic
    @LoreEclectic Před 4 lety +39

    Whenever he gets choked up I get choked up too

  • @joeottsoulbikes415
    @joeottsoulbikes415 Před 4 lety +132

    Art Copelston.....Thank you for telling us your story. Thank you for facing the terror and pain that you carry from this horror that was perpetrated on you it is important to hear these stories so that we can prevent it from happening again. I am sorry you had to live through this. Vox thank you for recording this horrible part of America's past and it's unfortunate present in some places.

    • @artcopleston5439
      @artcopleston5439 Před 4 lety +22

      Thanks for your kind comments, Joe. For many years, I've been embarrassed by the emotions these memories engender in me. With my partner of 30 years (until his death), we had a full and exciting life. How would my life have been different without the Johns Committee? I think I would have lived my life with greater self-satisfaction; without always feeling that I am somehow "less than others", and somehow "sub-standard". Those are the over-riding feelings I will carry with me forever.

  • @markofantares8922
    @markofantares8922 Před 4 lety +180

    Blessed and fortunate to live in a time when this is (mostly) a memory and not a fact of life.

    • @engr.enciso
      @engr.enciso Před 4 lety +19

      well
      depends on what country you are in

    • @engr.enciso
      @engr.enciso Před 4 lety +6

      @tre luglio yeah, ikr
      their is also such a large problem with sexism in the middle east

    • @StarvingWolff
      @StarvingWolff Před 4 lety +13

      I have the hope that someday we will live in a world where everyone puts rationality before plain racism and misjudge.

    • @merrilouneigenfind104
      @merrilouneigenfind104 Před 4 lety

      I can't breathe. Murica

    • @nakata123
      @nakata123 Před 4 lety

      ignorance is bliss lol

  • @LP-xw7ix
    @LP-xw7ix Před 4 lety +260

    This is why we need to teach LGBTQ history ins schools

  • @evanmay
    @evanmay Před 2 lety +13

    And now it’s happening again.

  • @mw-fj6dd
    @mw-fj6dd Před 4 lety +16

    I'm a student at UF and I can't believe I didn't know this...

    • @artcopleston5439
      @artcopleston5439 Před 4 lety +9

      Mega Wag, the next time you walk past Thomas H, look up to the 2nd floor bay window: That was my room. I'm the guy in the video.

    • @poelomokgotho8127
      @poelomokgotho8127 Před 4 lety

      Sending you love from South Africa ♥️

  • @memestagram4028
    @memestagram4028 Před 3 lety +31

    I'm a Floridian and this horrified me.

  • @TarkinGaming
    @TarkinGaming Před 3 lety +13

    What the John's Committee did was just monstrous. I can't believe that people would do something like this. Terrible.

  • @thejumboshrimp
    @thejumboshrimp Před 3 lety +12

    The more I learn about my state's history the less I feel proud to call myself a Floridian.

  • @AI-hx3fx
    @AI-hx3fx Před 2 lety +6

    Just sticking a hapless young man in the back of a police car is already terrifying.

  • @humberabdulah4733
    @humberabdulah4733 Před 4 lety +83

    the dark ages of Florida.

  • @rileyjenkins3150
    @rileyjenkins3150 Před 4 lety +17

    I cannot describe how angry I am.

  • @_TriGN
    @_TriGN Před 3 lety +23

    "Moral deviation" WHY CANT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THEN THEM ARE STILL HUMAN

  • @kingkongchief1177
    @kingkongchief1177 Před 2 lety +7

    And they’re doing it again by banning the discussion of it in classrooms.

  • @instruella
    @instruella Před 3 lety +79

    It’s so sad. I’m speechless. They were forced to be in the closet. They were just. Targeted. Disturbing. And what’s worse, it can happen today. We can’t let this happen.

  • @taylortimeless
    @taylortimeless Před 4 lety +24

    Sad that people treat other people this way. Disgusting.

  • @cheers4life100
    @cheers4life100 Před 3 lety +10

    i don't know why, but seeing the florida seal stamped on the back of the purple pamphlet is what really drove this home for me. i'm from florida, i still live here,i am part of the lgbt community, so it was easy to separate myself from the johns committee until i realized that we do share an identity and come from similar neighborhoods. seeing that really hit me that it could simply be my own neighbors that want to see my own life ruined for no valid reason.

  • @thebugbear
    @thebugbear Před 4 lety +21

    I can't imagine how hard it must be to have gone through trauma and be unable to connect to your community, then openly talk about your story online. This man is so brave.

  • @mimimarcus
    @mimimarcus Před 4 lety +36

    Having to question the intent of every single person you interact with sounds so horrifying. I felt so bad for the guy. That experience still terrorizes his psyche today. :(

  • @user-sn6jv5dv9s
    @user-sn6jv5dv9s Před 4 lety +115

    Ah, conservatism and religion. How nice.

    • @venator8139
      @venator8139 Před 4 lety +8

      Ah, we get about half of our morals from religion, How nice. Ah, the world's 3 worst men (Stalin, Mao, and Hitler) were Atheists, How nice. Ah, White and Christian guilt, How nice.

    • @venator8139
      @venator8139 Před 4 lety +5

      @@Alan-pi1vn Civilization before Christ did exist but in the US constitution and many other countries laws. Basic principles were based on Christianity as the moral code.

    • @albaniaalban
      @albaniaalban Před 4 lety +15

      @@venator8139 weren't they more based on tenets of the Greco-Roman era? Unless you count the severe limitations on personal freedom and expression, because yes, that's medieval/enlightened christian morality.

    • @baylorsmith555
      @baylorsmith555 Před 4 lety +9

      Martín Mejía Don’t need religion to know how the body works

    • @gumballgtr1478
      @gumballgtr1478 Před 4 lety +15

      This is why religion should stay out of law

  • @TrinityCourtStudios
    @TrinityCourtStudios Před 2 lety +18

    I wish I could give that man a hug.
    It’s horrifying. Just absolutely horrifying how America has treated LGBTQ people for decades; no, hundreds of years.

  • @TehWhiteMage
    @TehWhiteMage Před 3 lety +21

    Hate is disgusting, no matter whom it's directed toward. We need to acknowledge the humanity of everyone.

  • @TQM
    @TQM Před 4 lety +9

    Somehow, this explains the Pulse Nightclub shooting. The descendants of these absolute psychos are carrying on this madness

  • @pridecat
    @pridecat Před 3 lety +35

    as a floridian i can agree that we are one of the worst states in america in terms of activism. every day we go a step backwards. as a bi person i greatly appreciate this video because nobody ever talks about things like this

  • @gabr.7878
    @gabr.7878 Před 2 lety +10

    Makes me really scared when I have to go south, that all of this discrimination still exists

    • @elimaloney2025
      @elimaloney2025 Před rokem +2

      i went on a road trip there and someone scrawled slurs in the bathroom stall.

  • @piotrszymanski8739
    @piotrszymanski8739 Před 3 lety +10

    People are afraid of what they don't understand

  • @Voltanaut
    @Voltanaut Před 4 lety +75

    You just have to laugh sometimes. It's darkly and morbidly funny how certain things were in the past. Stuff like this is so ridiculously evil. It's proper gestapo stuff.

    • @clueless_cutie
      @clueless_cutie Před 4 lety +7

      People will commit the cruelest acts when they have righteous motivations.

    • @zain4019
      @zain4019 Před 4 lety +3

      Anna L.
      This makes me think about myself and what I think is right, and how far I would go. Not to uphold bigoted values, but to keep them at bay, so we don’t go back to the hatred that was so prevalent before.
      What’s the right balance between protecting others and your values, against misogyny, homophobia, racism, and actively doing things to stop these acts, if you see them?

  • @joao_gomes
    @joao_gomes Před 3 lety +7

    So basically Americans put together two obnoxious concepts: irrational fear of communism and discrimination against the LGBTQ community... the plot of a movie really

  • @timn5624
    @timn5624 Před 4 lety +17

    Thank you for a piece of LGBT history. As LGBT community we don't have much documented history. Because all the hatred through the ages.

  • @Cryptotone
    @Cryptotone Před 7 měsíci +8

    Florida hasn’t changed much🤷🏽

    • @MartYtraM1983
      @MartYtraM1983 Před 6 měsíci

      When you consider that they later had Anita Bryant and then Ron DeSantis, not really.

  • @aufajohan9528
    @aufajohan9528 Před 4 lety +42

    Vox keeping me educated and curious. Thank you.

  • @harryklieves2200
    @harryklieves2200 Před 3 lety +78

    Excellent reporting. I didn't know anything about this. Thank you.

  • @Sarah-lo5dx
    @Sarah-lo5dx Před 4 lety +9

    I want to give that man a hug sooo badly and whisper to him "It's all gonna be ok"

  • @starsnbites
    @starsnbites Před 2 lety +16

    2022 here, Florida is at it again. shame.

    • @CowOfTheNile
      @CowOfTheNile Před 2 lety +1

      hahhahahha

    • @frozen90577
      @frozen90577 Před 2 lety

      I love Florida

    • @ToadTendo
      @ToadTendo Před rokem +5

      @@CowOfTheNile hahaha your dad left you

    • @starsnbites
      @starsnbites Před rokem +5

      @Belltown Daisy what perverts? Why would you justify any type of discrimination

  • @Sochilinda
    @Sochilinda Před 4 lety +10

    So shameful! This should be thought in schools and definitively there should be an apology and probably compensations.

  • @liamwilson5670
    @liamwilson5670 Před 4 lety +13

    Robespierre: I have a list of “traitors” but I can’t reveal them
    Everyone: *cuts his head off*
    McCarthy: I have a list of “traitors” but I can’t reveal them
    Everyone: well ok then.

  • @BigMastah79
    @BigMastah79 Před 4 lety +17

    So glad I live now, I wouldn’t make it 5 Seconds in that 😳

  • @GeniusLad32
    @GeniusLad32 Před 3 lety +37

    When Americans say they don't want to erase history, they're already ignoring all the bad bits.