Bryant was the Doyenne of Discrimination Against LGBTQ People
Delray Beach, FL – Truth Wins Out (TWO) bitterly acknowledges the passing of Anita Bryant, 84, one of the most divisive and enduring symbols of anti-LGBT bigotry in American history. Bryant, a former beauty queen, crooner and orange juice model, leveraged her celebrity status to spew hateful propaganda that caused profound harm to LGBTQ individuals and their families. While we do not rejoice in the death of any individual, we believe it is critical to examine her sordid life, which animated the modern anti-LGBTQ movement and laid a foundational template for today’s anti-gay industry.
“Anita Bryant was the doyenne of discrimination who left a biography of anti-gay bigotry,” said Truth Wins Out’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “It was personally difficult for me as a seven-year-old gay kid living in Miami at the time of her homophobic crusade. Unfortunately, some of my first memories regarding my sexual orientation were Bryant’s fact-free fabrications about LGBTQ people. This is an experience I will never forgive nor forget.”
A Legacy of Bigotry
Anita Bryant rose to prominence in the 1970s, not just for her chart-topping music career and Miss America pageant fame, but for spearheading the “Save Our Children” campaign. In 1977, Bryant launched this crusade in Dade County, Florida, successfully overturning a county ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Bryant’s campaign was predicated on fearmongering and false claims that LGBTQ people posed a threat to children. Her nototious assertion that “Homosexuals cannot reproduce, so they must recruit” became a rallying cry for anti-gay activists and a source of enduring stigma for LGBTQ Americans.
Bryant’s efforts reverberated nationwide, inspiring a wave of anti-LGBTQ initiatives and creating a hostile climate. Her rhetoric was critically important in spreading the stereotype that LGBTQ people were predators, a blood libel that continues to fuel discrimination and violence to this day. She became a polarizing figure, igniting widespread protests and galvanizing the nascent gay rights movement into action.
The ‘Save Our Children’ Campaign: A Turning Point in the Fight for Equality
The “Save Our Children” campaign marked a turning point in American politics, as it framed LGBTQ rights as a threat to traditional family values. She collaborated with powerful allies in politics and religious communities, laying the groundwork for Rev. Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority, Donald Wildmon’s American Family Association, Pat Robertson’s Christian Coalition and Lou Sheldon’s Traditional Values Coalition.
“Anita Bryant’s dark, ugly legacy is a powerful reminder of how toxic bigotry, in the guise of religion, can infect society,” said TWO’s Wayne Besen. “Her despicable actions caused immense harm, but they also inspired LGBTQ people to come out of the closet to demand equal rights. As we contextualize her reprehensible record, let us recommit ourselves to the fight for justice at a time when hate and bigotry are ascendent.”
The Backlash and Bryant’s Decline
Bryant’s campaign against LGBTQ rights sparked a fierce and enduring backlash. Advocates organized boycotts against Florida orange juice, spotlighting her role as a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission to hit her where it hurt most: her career. LGBTQ advocates and their allies rallied under the slogan “Anita Bryant Squeezed Us Dry,” turning the boycott into a powerful symbol of resistance.
As public sentiment began to shift, Bryant’s career and personal life suffered. She faced financial struggles, a contentious divorce (Can we say “Christian” Hypocrite?), and dwindling public support. Despite these setbacks, she remained unapologetic and continued to champion anti-LGBTQ causes, doubling down on her beliefs even as the world around her changed.
About Truth Wins Out
Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization that works to protect LGBTQ people and advance equality by combating the spread of hate, extremism, and misinformation. Through education, advocacy, and public policy work, we strive to build a world where all individuals are free from discrimination and persecution.
