Anita Bryant, Singer and Controversial Anti-Gay Voice, Dies at 84

Anita Bryant, Grammy-nominated singer and orange juice spokesperson, died at 84 in Oklahoma. Known for her strong musical career, her legacy is complicated by her controversial anti-gay campaigns in the 1970s. Famous for her jingle, “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine,” her activism led to public backlash and diminished her entertainment career. Survived by family, she leaves a polarized legacy entwined with American history.

Anita Bryant, a renowned singer and orange juice spokesperson, passed away on December 16 at the age of 84 in her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Known for her powerful presence in music and television, her anti-gay activism in the late 1970s overshadowed her career. Bryant’s death was confirmed through an obituary in The Oklahoman, but the cause remains undisclosed.

Born on March 25, 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, Bryant’s early life was steeped in Christian values. Her love for singing brightened her childhood, leading her to a television career by the age of 12. She gained fame as Miss Oklahoma and made appearances on influential shows, including CBS’s variety show and “American Bandstand”. Her musical hits in the late ’50s and early ’60s include beloved songs like “Till There Was You” and “Paper Roses.”

Throughout her career, Bryant performed for notable audiences, including military members during Bob Hope tours and President Lyndon B. Johnson at the White House. Her notable moment came in 1971 when she sang at the Super Bowl. She became the face of orange juice with a catchy jingle, establishing her as a household name.

However, her rise to fame collided with her vocal opposition to a 1977 Dade County ordinance against discrimination based on sexual orientation, which ignited a fierce backlash. Leading the anti-gay group Save Our Children, she used inflammatory rhetoric that resulted in public protests and boycotts against her and the orange juice industry.

Bryant’s infamous pie incident during a live TV broadcast stirred controversy, further fueling public disdain. Consequently, she became a frequent target of satire on shows like “Saturday Night Live,” diminishing her career as her legacy became synonymous with intolerance, leading to financial hardship by the late 1990s.

In a later chapter of her life, Bryant founded Anita Bryant Ministries International in Oklahoma City. She is survived by four children, two stepdaughters, and seven grandchildren, leaving behind a complex legacy intertwined with both her celebrity status and her polarizing activism.

Anita Bryant was a significant cultural figure pivoting between fame as a singer and a controversial stance against the LGBTQ+ community in the 1970s. Her promotion of orange juice helped cement her visibility but her social activism complicated her legacy. In the backdrop of rising LGBTQ+ rights, Bryant’s attempts to rally public sentiment against gay rights solidified her place as a divisive character in American cultural history. Her campaigns sparked significant responses from advocates, shaping the discourse around LGBTQ+ rights that continues today.

Anita Bryant’s life was marked by a juxtaposition of musical talent and a controversial public persona. She garnered fame for her singing career and her influential role in advertising but ultimately became a symbol of anti-gay sentiment during a pivotal moment for LGBTQ+ rights in America. Despite her efforts for the Save Our Children campaign, the backlash against her activism diminished her legacy. To the end, she remained a complex figure seen through multiple lenses of cultural and social identity.

Original Source: deadline.com