Anita Bryant, Former Singer And Anti-Gay Activist, Dies At 84

Anita Bryant, a singer and former beauty queen, died on Dec. 16 at the age of 84. She had a successful music career in the 1960s and ’70s with hit songs like “Paper Roses.” However, her strong opposition to gay rights, which included calling homosexuality “an abomination,” harmed her career significantly. She passed away from cancer at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Her son, William Green, confirmed the news, and the family published an obituary in The Oklahoman, a newspaper in Oklahoma City, on Thursday.

Early Life and Musical Career

Anita Jane Bryant was born on March 25, 1940, in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, and was crowned Miss Oklahoma in 1958. She pursued a singing career, scoring three top 20 songs in the United States in the early 1960s, with "Paper Roses" reaching number five on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Florida Citrus Commission Spokesperson

From 1969 to 1980, Bryant was the Florida Citrus Commission's spokesperson, representing Florida orange juice in national advertising efforts. Her affiliation with the company helped her become a household name and a notable figure in American advertising.

Anti-Gay Activism and Career Impact

Bryant became a public opponent of homosexual rights in 1977, when he led the "Save Our Children" campaign to overturn a municipal ordinance in Miami-Dade County, Florida, that prohibited sexual orientation-based discrimination. Her engagement in this campaign resulted in massive boycotts of Florida orange juice and other products she advocated, which had a substantial impact on her career and public image.

Legacy and Passing

Anita Bryant died on December 16, 2024, at the age of 84. Her contributions to the music industry, as well as her contentious position in the homosexual rights struggle, have left an imprint on history. Bryant's life and work are still being discussed and analyzed, highlighting the complicated relationship between celebrity, activism, and public perception.

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