Anita Bryant, Singer and Anti-Gay Rights Activist, Dies at 84

The former beauty queen and face of Florida orange juice became a polarizing figure in the 1970s for her vocal opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

Anita Bryant passed away on December 16, 2024, at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, from cancer, as confirmed by her family.
Bryant rose to fame as a 1960s pop singer with hits like 'Paper Roses' and as a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission, coining the slogan 'A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.'
Her 1977 'Save Our Children' campaign against a Miami-Dade County anti-discrimination ordinance linked LGBTQ+ rights to threats against children, galvanizing the modern religious right and fueling widespread protests and boycotts.
The backlash to her activism led to the loss of her commercial endorsements, career opportunities, and public support, including a boycott of Florida orange juice by LGBTQ+ activists and allies.
Despite later attempts to revive her career, including a variety show and a music tour, Bryant remained a divisive figure and a symbol of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment throughout her life.