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

Mar. 15, 2025

Anita Bryant in 1977.Photo:Getty

Getty

Anita Bryant, anti-gay rights activist and Grammy-nominated pop singer, has died. She was 84.

Anita Bryant in 1960.Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty

Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group via Getty

She was crowned Miss Oklahoma six years later and subsequently represented the state in the 1958 Miss America pageant, finishing third, perEdmond Live & Leisure.

Bryant’s recording career took off around the same time, and she earned two top-10 hits on theBillboardHot 100 in 1960 with “Paper Roses” and “My Little Corner of the World.”

She sang at both the 1968 Democratic and Republican conventions, performed for U.S. troops overseas for seven consecutive years and became known for her version of “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” which she did live at the 1971 Super Bowl and President Lyndon Johnson’s 1973 funeral.

Later that decade, Bryant became publicly vocal about her anti-gay views and famously stated she “loves homosexuals, but hates their sin,” perVariety— a phrase the LGBTQ+ community still mocks for its backhanded nature.

Anita Bryant.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

She founded a 1977 “Save Our Children” campaign in Florida’s Miami-Dade County that aimed to repeal an ordinance prohibiting sexual orientation-based discrimination. “The ordinance condones immorality and discriminates against my children’s rights to grow up in a healthy, decent community,” said Bryant at the time, perThe New York Times.

A popular vote ultimately repealed the ordinance, which wasn’t put back in place for 21 years,Varietyreported.

She defended her anti-gay views on the basis of religion. “I got involved only because they were asking for special privileges that violated the state law of Florida, not to mention God’s law,” she toldPlayboyin 1978. “God says the wages of sin are death, and one little sin brings on another. The homosexual act is just the beginning of the depravity.”

The artist also advocated for California’s Briggs Initiative aiming to keep public school staffers from speaking in support of the gay community, perVariety, though the initiative ultimately failed.

Anita Bryant.Lynn Pelham/Getty

Lynn Pelham/Getty

Bryant received three Grammy nominations throughout her career: best sacred performance for “How Great Thou Art” in 1968, best sacred performance (musical) for herAbide with Mealbum in 1972 and best inspirational performance for herAnita Bryant…Naturallyalbum in 1974.

She notably served as the spokesperson for Florida oranges from 1969 through 1980, touting the catchphrase, “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” [PerVariety, many people in opposition to her homophobic views later flipped the phrase to read, “A day without human rights is like a day without sunshine."]

For 20 years, Bryant was married to husband Bob Green, whom she divorced in 1980, according toVariety. She later marriedCharlie Hobson Dryin 1990; he died earlier this year.

source: people.com