Desdinova- Supervillain of the Ozarks
Desdinova has an interesting blog with takes on the Ozarks.
I remember the Normal Heart controversy, house burning and all.
Question: Jean Dixon was against the Normal Heart---Who was she and why was she so adamantly opposed to the production of the play?
The winner gets an original red felt heart from the early 1990's. Well, maybe I won't give the heart to the winner, but I will let them look at it and touch it.
3 comments:
I can't remember what Ms. Dixon's official title was back then--state rep? city councilwoman? Anyway, she thought she was important. Apparently, she didn't think that (S)MSU should be putting on a play about AIDS. She led a campaign to stop the production, which led to bomb threats against the production and the university. I can still remember trying to get to my classes in Craig Hall and having to go through metal detectors. One of the students in the theatre department (a friend of mine) formed a group to support the play, and a candlelight vigil was held. Then a few days later, I got a phone call from this friend telling me that his house was on fire. Someone had torched his home, destroying all his possessions and killing his pets. Ms. Dixon showed up at the blaze with a pathetic simulation of sympathy. That's when I finally knew the true meaning of "'Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks."
Jean Dixon was an openly and viciously anti-Gay one term state representative from Springfield. She was the Ozarks version of Anita Bryant, her contemporary. I assume she lost her bid for a second term but she might have decided not to run again-can't remember. Dixon then got a job as a UPS driver in KC-I remember seeing her photo in the newspaper, along with a revealing story about her son, who was ironically Gay. Of course her other son is current state rep Bob Dixon.
Yep, Dixon lost to Connie Wibble next election. She also tried to push for it to be illeagal for a person under 18 to by a CD or tape and, if I remember correctly, a parent or other adult could be brought up on child abuse charges. She was anti-rock music. I remember after she was out of office, KSPR 33 had her giving editorials on the evening news. Kiss was at Hammond Center and she delivered an anti-Kiss editorial. Next I heard of her was the NL article which showed her working for UPS.
MEMO TO RON DAVIS: NO EDITORIAL SEGMENTS WITH JEAN DIXON.
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