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A 1958 Miss American pageant second-runner-up and born-again Christian, Anita Bryant led the effort to repeal a gay rights ordinance in Dade County, Florida. She stirred up hatred of gays and lesbians, saying that they were out to recruit children, and the vote to repeal went in her campaign's favor by a two-to-one margin. Some gay activists believe the "Save Our Children" campaign mobilized gays and lesbians across the country and inspired them to be politically active. The Dade County gay-rights ordinance was reinstated in 1998. |