On December 16, 2024, Anita Bryant, a beauty queen turned anti-LGBTQ+ activist and orange juice spokesperson, quietly passed away at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma. Despite her prominence in the 1970s as a vocal opponent of LGBTQ+ rights, it wasn’t until nearly a month later—on January 9, 2025—that her death garnered public attention. For many in the LGBTQ+ community, Bryant’s legacy is a painful reminder of the battles fought and the resilience of those who stood against her.
Bryant rose to national prominence as the face of the Florida Citrus Commission, cheerfully promoting orange juice with the tagline, “A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.” But her fame took a darker turn when she launched the infamous “Save Our Children” campaign in 1977. This crusade successfully repealed a Miami-Dade County, Florida ordinance that prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Bryant framed her campaign as a moral imperative to “protect children,” a tactic that stoked fear and perpetuated harmful stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people.
Her rhetoric and actions galvanized activists nationwide, transforming her into a symbol of anti-LGBTQ sentiment—and, simultaneously, a catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The most enduring image of Anita Bryant is perhaps one of poetic justice: the moment in 1977 when LGBTQ+ activist Thom L. Higgins pied her in the face during a televised press conference. Bryant’s shocked reaction—and her quip about praying for Higgins—became a defining moment, emblematic of the humor and defiance queer communities used to fight back.
Bryant’s impact extended far beyond Florida. In April 1978, she visited Pittsburgh to perform at the Civic Arena, an event that sparked the city’s first large-scale LGBTQ+ rights demonstration. Hundreds of activists gathered outside the arena, their chants and signs rejecting Bryant’s hateful messaging. This moment became a watershed for Pittsburgh’s queer community, shattering the “covert commandment” that LGBTQ+ people should remain invisible and silent.
Ronald Lawrence recalled how the protest ended with the demonstrators filing into local gay bar David’s to cheers and applause. A young man, known now only as “Little George,” exclaimed, “I saw you on TV,” a moment of awakening that underscored the personal and communal empowerment born from taking a stand. For Pittsburgh’s LGBTQ+ community, Bryant’s visit was both a flashpoint and a rallying cry, propelling the city further into the fight for equality.
While Bryant’s anti-gay crusade initially found support among conservatives, it came at great personal cost. Boycotts of Florida orange juice, fueled by her activism, damaged her public image and career. By the 1980s, she faced financial troubles, multiple bankruptcies, and a divorce that alienated her from some of her conservative allies. Despite attempts to rebrand herself in later years, she never regained her former status.
The fact that her death went unnoticed for nearly a month speaks volumes about her waning influence. For many, she is remembered not as a celebrated figure but as an adversary in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. Her passing has sparked reflection on the resilience of those who stood against her, from Thom L. Higgins’ pie to the chants outside the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh.
Anita Bryant’s story is a reminder of the long and ongoing struggle for LGBTQ+ rights. Her actions and rhetoric caused pain for countless people, but they also united communities and inspired activism that continues to shape the fight for equality. The protests she ignited were not just against her but against the pervasive culture of homophobia she embodied.
Her death may not mark the end of an era—because the fight she represented continues—but it does provide a moment to reflect on how far the LGBTQ+ movement has come. From the streets of Pittsburgh to the pie in her face, Anita Bryant inadvertently helped to galvanize the very community she sought to silence.
Her passing will likely be remembered less for her achievements and more for the defiance she inspired.
