Anita Bryant is one of those names in the annals of South Florida and American pop culture history that will forever be remembered for her meteoric rise as a singer, her powerful influence as a pitchwoman for Florida Orange Juice, and her vociferous, highly publicized stance against the gay rights movement in the late 1970s. Her life in South Florida, especially in Miami, was the very intersection of entertainment, politics, and cultural conflict that defined her legacy.
Born in 1940 in Oklahoma, Anita Bryant had blossoming early years for her music. Moving to Miami in the 1960s made her one of the commonest features around, attending functions, singing pop-gospel-style songs, and garnering quite a following.
This soon resulted in very important concerts: a White House benefit concert, singing on a national television special or two, etc. However, her stardom took on a different dimension when she was appointed a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission in 1969.
She became known as the woman of Florida orange juice, most especially with the catchphrase she popularized, “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” This single advertisement made her a household name across the United States, appearing in commercials with brands such as Coca-Cola and Kraft Foods.
Bryant’s wholesome, all-American image forever stamped her as a singer and pitchwoman and cemented the conservative Christian values she was committed to. But this would be short-lived, and the 1970s had more in store for her by way of an involvement in activism politics.
In 1977, she headed the campaign known as “Save Our Children,” which emerged in opposition to an ordinance in Dade County, Florida, enacted earlier that same year, preventing discrimination based on sexual orientation. The basis of Bryant’s objection to the ordinance was her view that homosexuals were allowed rights that would endanger the children because she feared that they would “be recruited into homosexuality.” That belief became a rallying point in her campaign, turning her into one of the most vociferous anti-gay rights activists in her lifetime.
Her rhetoric, which included claims such as “homosexuals cannot reproduce children, therefore they must recruit,” sparked intense backlash from the gay community and its allies.
While Bryant’s campaign succeeded in the repeal of the ordinance, it also led to a nationwide boycott of Florida orange juice, a product she had tirelessly promoted. Gay bars replaced screwdrivers, a popular cocktail, with a drink called the “Anita Bryant,” made from vodka and apple juice, with proceeds going to fund gay civil rights causes.
Bryant’s public life took a hit following her controversial activism. Despite her early success, her anti-gay campaigns sparked protests, including the now-famous “pieing” incident. In 1977, during a press conference in Des Moines, Iowa, a protestor threw a pie in her face as a political act.
Bryant’s response, which was to pray for the protestor’s “deviant lifestyle” and ask for God’s forgiveness, was broadcast to a national audience and became a defining moment in her story. It would represent a moment of change in the impression the public would have of her: from viewing her as a great singer and ambassador to resenting her outspoken opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.
While Bryant continued her campaigns against gay rights across the nation, including attempts to repeal similar ordinances in other cities like St. Paul, Minnesota, and Wichita, Kansas, her influence waned over time.
In 1998, Dade County, which had once repealed its anti-discrimination ordinance due to Bryant’s campaign, reauthorized the protections for gay individuals, symbolizing a significant shift in public sentiment. It was a victory for the LGBTQ+ rights movement and a stark contrast to Bryant’s early activism.
Bryant’s life in South Florida, particularly in Miami, continues to embody the intricacies of celebrity, activism, and social change. The years that followed her notorious anti-gay campaigns against gays were marred with great opposition from the gay community but had their fair share of allies within the conservative Christian realm. Her musical career had lost steam, but she remained quite visible in the media, even hosting a two-hour television special in 1980.
While Bryant’s public life was marred by controversy, her impact on the cultural and political landscape of South Florida is undeniable. Her legacy speaks to a time when social movements clashed in the public arena, leaving a complicated legacy that continues to be debated.
For many, Anita Bryant’s life in South Florida is a reminder of the power of media, religion, and politics in shaping public opinion and how those forces can leave a lasting imprint on both individuals and communities.
