The Religious Right's Moral Majority Campaign Against Hustler
In the 1980s, the Moral Majority and other conservative Christian groups spearheaded national efforts to suppress Hustler, calling it a "moral evil" undermining family values. They pushed for stricter obscenity laws and urged retailers to boycott the magazine. Flynt responded by making the Moral Majority a frequent target of his satire and political attacks, framing himself as a defender of free expression against religious authoritarianism. This clash was part of the broader culture war of the era, with Hustler as one of the most visible battlegrounds.
First, let's look at the background of this conflict. The Moral Majority was founded in 1979 by televangelist Jerry Falwell as an organization dedicated to promoting traditional moral values and opposing secular liberalism in America. It quickly gained popularity among Christians who were concerned about the perceived decline of morality and cultural decay in society. One of their key issues was the proliferation of pornography, which they believed was destroying families and harming children. Hustler, a pornographic magazine founded by Larry Flynt, became a prime target for their campaign.
Flynt had been publishing Hustler since the late 1960s and had built up a reputation for pushing boundaries with risqué content and provocative satire. He frequently lampooned politicians and celebrities, including Ronald Reagan and Jesse Jackson, often using crude language and imagery. In 1983, he published an issue featuring a cartoon depicting a nun performing oral sex on Jesus Christ, sparking outrage from conservatives across the country.
The Moral Majority led a national effort to boycott Hustler and pressure retailers not to carry it. They also lobbied for stricter obscenity laws that would make it more difficult for publishers like Flynt to distribute their materials. This included advocating for greater government regulation of pornography and challenging its First Amendment protections.
Flynt responded by making the Moral Majority a frequent target of his satire and political attacks, framing himself as a defender of free expression against religious authoritarianism. He sued Falwell for libel after the televangelist accused him of being behind the murder of John Lennon (a claim later proven false). He also published numerous articles critical of Falwell's politics and religious beliefs.
This conflict between Hustler and the Moral Majority was part of a broader culture war in America during the 1980s. Conservative Christians saw themselves as under attack by secular liberals who were undermining traditional values and promoting moral decay. Liberals viewed this movement as an attempt to impose their own narrow views on society and limit individual freedom. The fight over Hustler became a symbolic battleground in this larger struggle.
Overall, the Religious Right's campaign against Hustler was ultimately unsuccessful. Flynt remained in business and continued publishing his magazine until his death in 2021. However, the clash highlighted the tensions between conservative Christians and liberal progressives in American society and continues to resonate today.