Anita Bryant, Singer and Anti-LGBTQ Activist, Dies at 84

Anita Bryant, the pop singer, former Miss Oklahoma, and controversial anti-LGBTQ activist, died at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, on December 16, 2024. She was 84. Bryant, best known for her 1960s hits and her role as a spokesperson for Florida orange juice, later became a polarizing figure for her opposition to gay rights in the 1970s.

Born on March 25, 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, Bryant rose to fame as a singer with hits like “Paper Roses” and “Till There Was You.” She was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 1958 and finished as second runner-up in the Miss America pageant the following year. Her wholesome image led to a successful career in music, television, and advertising, including a long-running campaign for Florida orange juice with the slogan, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.”

Bryant’s career took a dramatic turn in 1977 when she led the “Save Our Children” campaign to repeal a Miami-Dade County ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Her activism, rooted in her Christian beliefs, sparked a nationwide backlash from LGBTQ activists, who organized a boycott of Florida orange juice. Bryant’s public appearances became targets for protests, and her career suffered as a result.

“I got involved only because they were asking for special privileges that violated the state law of Florida, not to mention God’s law,” Bryant said in a 1978 interview with Playboy. Her efforts led to the repeal of the ordinance but also made her a divisive figure. She lost endorsement deals, concert bookings, and her role as a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission.

Bryant’s personal life also faced challenges. Her marriage to Bob Green ended in divorce in 1980, further alienating her from conservative supporters. She later married Charles Dry, her childhood sweetheart, and focused on Christian ministry work. Despite attempts to revive her career, including ventures in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Bryant largely remained out of the public eye.

Bryant is survived by her four children, two stepdaughters, and seven grandchildren. Her legacy remains a complex mix of musical achievement and cultural controversy.