WI: Jerry Falwell outed as gay in 1980s

Jerry Falwell helped form the Moral Majority coalition in the 80s, which joined with the Republicans in helping to elect President Reagan. Among many things he had done as an evangelist was promote "family values" and conservative principles, among other things such as anti-LGBT rhetoric.

What if Jerry Falwell were outed as gay in the 80s, in say, a sex scandal? What effect would this have?
 
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is any hidden evidence that Falwell was gay. Therefore, you'd need a different Falwell and that guy probably wouldn't have ended up where he did in OTL.

If you're speaking more generally about a major Religious Right figure outed in a scandal, look up Ted Haggard. They would be dealt with very cleany with no real impact on anything else.
 
Naaah but.

Jerry was in all likeliehood not gay and sincere in his concern for homosexuals and the effects of its acceptance in the US...and it was a great drum to beat when one needed to raise funds for Liberty U.
Interestingly, his ghost writer Mel White (?) came out as gay 30 years or more ago and became a founder of the Metropolitan Church which was (may still be) "the gay church." Falwell also did some outreach to homosexuals and their leaders late in his life.
Burtledog
Grace To You
 
As Jerry Falwell wasn't gay, "outing him" would be a real step backwards for the gay rights movement even in the context of the massive reaction of the 80s. Might lead to a constitutional amendment preventing gay marriage once the 90s roll around.
 
As Jerry Falwell wasn't gay, "outing him" would be a real step backwards for the gay rights movement even in the context of the massive reaction of the 80s. Might lead to a constitutional amendment preventing gay marriage once the 90s roll around.

How so?

fillerfiller
 
Well, character assassination doesn't really engender any sympathy and part of the struggle is assuming middle America that gay people are simply people.

Though I admit I got a bit melodramatic towards the end so I'll just say...butterflies. ;)
 
Falwell was not secretly gay IOTL, IIRC, so there'd have to be a different POD...

If this did happen, and it didn't work, his might be as bad as the time Larry Flynt did that parody (if that's what it was) ad where Falwell's first time was with his mother in an outhouse; I don't blame Falwell for being pissed at Flynt over that (and, personally, if Falwell wanted to take a punch at him, I wouldn't have minded, even though Falwell ain't exactly one of my favorite people)...
 
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