Thomas Lawrence Higgins

Thomas Lawrence Higgins
Tom Higgins in a suit, holding his hands up as two people pull on him
Higgins in 1977 shortly after pieing Bryant
Born(1950-06-17)June 17, 1950
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, US
DiedNovember 10, 1994(1994-11-10) (aged 44)
Roseville, Minnesota, US
OccupationsWriter, nurse
Years active1967–1994
Known forGay rights activism, pieing Anita Bryant

Thomas Lawrence Higgins (June 17, 1950 – November 10, 1994) was an American writer and gay rights activist credited with coining the term gay pride. He is best known for pushing a pie into the face of anti-gay activist Anita Bryant on live television in 1977.

Early life

Higgins was born in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He attended Catholic elementary school in Minnesota as well as Catholic high schools in Minnesota and North Dakota before being accepted to the University of North Dakota in 1967 to study in journalism and theater. He was suspended in 1968 for his involvement in an underground student publication Snow Job.

Career and activism

In 1969 Higgins became the first person in Minnesota to be granted conscientious objector status from the Vietnam War. Around this time he joined the Fight Repression of Erotic Expression (FREE), where he is credited with coining the term gay pride. He was terminated from his job at the State Radio Services for the Blind as a result of his affiliation with FREE. In response FREE picketed his former workplace, protesting for anti-discrimination protections.

Bob Green has an arm around Anita Bryant as Bryant breaks down into tears. Bryant's face is covered in cream.
Bryant (right) after being pied in the face

On October 14, 1977, Higgins and his friend and fellow gay rights activist Bruce Brockway attended a televised pre-concert press conference hosted by singer Anita Bryant, who was answering questions about her plan to open a network of Anita Bryant Centers where "homosexuals could go for rehabilitation." During the conference Higgins got up, and pushed a banana cream pie into Bryant's face. Afterwards he and four companions exited the studio to answer questions for the media. Bryant's husband Bob Green noticed one of them holding an unused pie, and pressed it into his face in retaliation. Criminal charges were not filed against Higgins. Earlier in the year, Higgins had also been involved in the pieing of John Roach.

In 1980, Higgins and Brockway founded the Positively Gay Cuban Refugee Task Force, in response to an influx of refugees fleeing Cuba. Among these refugees were gay men, who faced legal persecution in their home country. They were all housed in refugee camps, and were unable to leave without an American sponsor. The organization helped mobilize Minneapolis's gay community to sponsor gay refugees, and allow them to leave and resettle.

Death

Higgins died of AIDS complications on November 10, 1994. He is buried in Roseville, Minnesota.

References

  1. 1 2 Ross, Jenna; Nelson, Rick; Hewitt, Chris; Eler, Alicia. "50 Years of Twin Cities Pride". Star Tribune. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  2. ↑ Austin, Tyler. "Today In Gay History: Gay Activist Pies Anita Bryant In the Face". Out Magazine. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Raihala, Ross (June 29, 2025). "Meet the Minnesotan who coined the term 'gay pride' and tossed a pie in Anita Bryant's face". Pioneer Press. St. Paul, Minnesota. Thomas Lawrence Higgins was born on June 17, 1950, in Beaver Dam, Wis.
  4. ↑ Higgins, Thom (1967–1977) [25 August 1994]. "Thom Higgins Papers". UND ArchivesSpace Public Interface. University of North Dakota. Retrieved September 16, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Aamodt, Britt. "Positively Gay Cuban Refugee Task Force". Mnopedia. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  6. ↑ Simbro, William (October 15, 1977). "Pie shoved in Anita Bryant's face by homosexual here – she cries". Des Moines Register. ProQuest 2202965058. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Anita Bryant hit by pie in Iowa". Iowa City Press Citizen. October 15, 1977. ProQuest 2128575403. Retrieved October 15, 2022.
  8. ↑ Davies, Tom (May 14, 1977). "Pie attack on archbishop believed planned by priest". Minneapolis Tribune. pp. 1A, 9A.
  9. ↑ Shirley, Hannah (June 26, 2024). "Years before he was a gay rights leader, he was thrown out of UND. Whatever happened to Thom Higgins?". Grand Forks Herald. Retrieved December 30, 2024.