Anita Bryant, 84, Anti-Gay Activist Who Lost Career, Dies
Anita Bryant, Former Beauty Queen and Anti-Gay Activist, Dies at 84
Anita Bryant, a singer and former beauty queen who rose to fame with hit songs like “Paper Roses” in the 1960s and 70s, passed away on December 16, 2024, at 84. She died at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma, after battling cancer. The news was confirmed by her son, William Green, through an obituary in The Oklahoman on January 9, 2025.
Born in Barnsdall, Oklahoma, on March 25, 1940, Bryant gained national attention when she won the Miss Oklahoma crown at just 18 years old and went on to become a second runner-up in the Miss America pageant. This victory helped launch her career as an entertainer, and for almost two decades, she built a solid reputation as a wholesome, all-American star.
Bryant’s career took off as she performed on major TV shows like The Ed Sullivan Show, The Perry Como Show, and The George Gobel Show.
She also toured with Bob Hope for the U.S.O. and performed on Billy Graham’s evangelical tours. Bryant even had a string of Top 40 hits, including the beloved song “Paper Roses.”
One of her most recognizable roles was as the spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission, where she appeared in commercials promoting orange juice.
Her sunny personality and catchy tagline, “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine,” made her a household name in the 1970s.
But this image of cheerfulness would soon be overshadowed by her controversial political stance.
In 1977, when the Miami-Dade County Commission passed an ordinance to prevent discrimination against gay people, Bryant became an outspoken opponent.
She led a campaign called Save Our Children, arguing that the ordinance threatened children and families.
Her vocal opposition to gay rights led her to publicly call homosexuality an “abomination,” a stance that sparked fierce backlash.
Bryant’s anti-gay views, tied to her Christian beliefs, marked the beginning of a career downfall. Her activism against LGBTQ rights led to her being blacklisted from the entertainment industry, including the cancellation of a television variety show that was already in the works.
Despite the Citrus Commission’s reassurances that her activism would not affect her endorsement deal, they eventually severed ties with her, ending her contract in the 1980s.
In October 1977, Bryant became the target of a famous protest when a demonstrator threw a cream pie in her face during a press conference.
The incident, captured on live television, became a defining moment in her public life. As she wiped the pie from her face, she famously said, “At least it was a fruit pie” before breaking into tears and praying for the attacker.
While Bryant’s career never fully recovered, she continued to make public appearances, including a 1980 variety special that failed to revive her popularity. Over the next few decades, she also wrote books, including The Anita Bryant Story (1977), which further amplified her views on the dangers of homosexuality.
Her activism led to widespread mockery, with appearances in comedy sketches on shows like Saturday Night Live and The Carol Burnett Show. Bryant also became a punchline in films like Airplane! and documentaries such as Milk (2008), which chronicled the rise of the gay rights movement and the backlash from figures like Bryant.
In the late 1980s, Bryant attempted a comeback, performing for small crowds in Florida trailer parks, but financial troubles continued to plague her efforts.
In the 1990s, she married Charlie Hobson Dry, and the couple tried to relaunch her career in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, but their ventures failed. They eventually returned to Oklahoma, where they started Anita Bryant Ministries International.
Bryant’s life and career were complicated by both her public fame and the divisive nature of her political views. While she believed she was standing up for her moral values, many saw her as a symbol of bigotry, a perception that ultimately overshadowed her once-promising career.
Anita Bryant is survived by her two sons, Robert Green Jr. and William Green; two daughters, Gloria and Barbara; and two stepdaughters. Her husband, Charlie Dry, passed away in 2024.
Reflecting on her life and career, Bryant once said, “I was a sacrificial lamb. I didn’t even know it. And I couldn’t get out of it once I’d begun.” Her legacy is one of both fame and controversy, shaped by her fierce beliefs and the personal and professional consequences that followed.
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