History of Anita Bryant in Timeline
Anita Bryant, an American singer and anti-gay rights activist, achieved three top 20 hits in the US during the early 1960s. She won the Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant in 1958 and served as a brand ambassador for the Florida Citrus Commission from 1969 to 1980. Bryant's career was marked by controversy due to her outspoken opposition to gay rights, particularly her successful campaign to repeal a Dade County ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation. This activism significantly impacted her later career, leading to boycotts and protests that diminished her public image and musical opportunities.
March 25, 1940: Birth of Anita Bryant
Anita Jane Bryant was born on March 25, 1940.
September 6, 1958: Miss America Pageant
On September 6, 1958, Anita Bryant was the second runner-up in the Miss America pageant.
1958: Miss Oklahoma
In 1958, Anita Bryant won the Miss Oklahoma beauty pageant.
1959: High School Graduation
Anita Bryant graduated from Tulsa's Will Rogers High School in 1959.
1959: Debut Album Release
Anita Bryant released her first album, "Anita Bryant", in 1959.
1959: "Till There Was You" Hit
Anita Bryant's song "Till There Was You" reached US No. 30 in 1959.
1960: Two Top 20 Hits
Anita Bryant had two top 20 hits in the US: "Paper Roses" (No. 5) and "In My Little Corner of the World" (No. 10) in 1960.
1960: Marriage to Bob Green
Anita Bryant married Bob Green, a Miami disc jockey, in 1960. They had four children together.
1961: Start of USO Tours with Bob Hope
Anita Bryant began touring with Bob Hope for the United Service Organizations in 1961.
1961: Release of Two Albums
Anita Bryant released two albums, "Hear Anita Bryant in Your Home Tonight" and "In My Little Corner of the World", in 1961.
1961: "Wonderland by Night" Hit
Anita Bryant's song "Wonderland by Night" reached US No. 18 in 1961.
1963: Release of "Greatest Hits" Album
Anita Bryant's compilation album, "Greatest Hits", was released in 1963.
1964: First White House Performance
Anita Bryant performed at a White House function for the first time in 1964.
1964: Release of "The World of Lonely People" Album
Anita Bryant released the album "The World of Lonely People" in 1964.
1967: Release of "I Believe" Album
Anita Bryant released the gospel album "I Believe" in 1967.
1968: End of Initial USO Tours
Anita Bryant's initial period of touring with Bob Hope for the USO ended in 1968.
1968: Performances at Political Conventions
Anita Bryant performed at both the Democratic and Republican Conventions in 1968.
1969: Performance at Republican Convention
Anita Bryant performed at the Republican Convention in Miami in 1969.
1969: Florida Citrus Commission and Other Endorsements
In 1969, Anita Bryant became a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission and also appeared in advertisements for Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, Holiday Inn, and Tupperware.
1969: Florida Citrus Commission Spokeswoman
Anita Bryant became a spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission in 1969.
1971: Super Bowl V Performance
Anita Bryant sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at Super Bowl V in 1971.
1973: Performance at Lyndon B. Johnson's Funeral
Anita Bryant sang at the funeral of President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1973.
February 1977: Singer Corporation Withdraws Sponsorship Offer
In February 1977, the Singer Corporation withdrew its offer to sponsor Anita Bryant's upcoming variety show due to the controversy surrounding her political activities.
June 7, 1977: "Save Our Children" Campaign Victory
On June 7, 1977, Anita Bryant's "Save Our Children" campaign successfully repealed a local ordinance in Miami-Dade County prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation.
October 14, 1977: Pie Incident and Anti-Gay Remarks
On October 14, 1977, Anita Bryant made controversial remarks against homosexuality during a televised appearance in Des Moines, Iowa, stating that she "loves homosexuals, but hates their sin." She was subsequently pied in the face by a protestor, to which she reacted by praying for the protestor's "deviant lifestyle." The incident garnered significant media attention and fueled the ongoing boycott of Florida orange juice.
1977: "Luister Anita" Protest Song Released
In 1977, Dutch singer Zangeres Zonder Naam released "Luister Anita" ("Listen Up, Anita"), a protest song criticizing Anita Bryant's anti-gay rights activism. The song was written for a benefit concert in Amsterdam to raise funds for an advertisement in Time magazine, urging Americans to protect minority rights.
1977: Florida Ban on Gay Adoption
Florida legislators approved a measure prohibiting gay adoption in 1977.
1977: Start of "Save Our Children" Campaign
Anita Bryant launched the "Save Our Children" campaign to repeal a Dade County ordinance prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation in 1977.
1978: Playboy Interview
Anita Bryant did an interview with Playboy Magazine in 1978 which would later become the subject of a play.
1978: Publication of "At Any Cost"
In 1978, Anita Bryant and Bob Green co-authored the book "At Any Cost," recounting their campaign against anti-discrimination ordinances.
1978: Unsuccessful Run for Southern Baptist Convention Vice President
In 1978, Anita Bryant ran for vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention but lost. Her stance against civil rights for gay people contributed to her defeat.
1978: David Allan Coe's Song
In 1978, David Allan Coe released a song titled "Fuck Aneta Briant" on his album "Nothing Sacred."
1978: Campaigning Against Anti-Discrimination Ordinances
Throughout 1978, Anita Bryant spearheaded campaigns across the country to repeal local anti-discrimination ordinances, including in St. Paul, Minnesota; Wichita, Kansas; and Eugene, Oregon. Her efforts influenced the Briggs Initiative in California, a proposition that sought to ban pro-gay statements by public school employees.
1979: Elton John's Response to Criticism
When criticized for touring Russia in 1979, Elton John defended his decision by stating he wouldn't avoid touring America just because he disliked Anita Bryant.
March 1980: The Anita Bryant Spectacular
Anita Bryant hosted a two-hour television special, "The Anita Bryant Spectacular", in March 1980.
1980: Divorce from Bob Green
Anita Bryant divorced Bob Green in 1980, citing emotional abuse and suicidal thoughts. Green refused to recognize the divorce based on his religious beliefs.
1980: End of Florida Citrus Commission Contract
Anita Bryant's contract with the Florida Citrus Commission ended in 1980.
1980: Divorce from Bob Green
Anita Bryant's divorce from Bob Green in 1980 sparked accusations of hypocrisy from the Christian right due to their beliefs about the indissolubility of marriage.
1980: End of Florida Citrus Commission Contract Due to Activism
Following her controversial activism, Anita Bryant's contract with the Florida Citrus Commission was terminated in 1980.
1980: Relocation and Shift in Views
Following her divorce in 1980, Anita Bryant relocated to Selma, Alabama, and later to Atlanta, Georgia, with three of her children. She publicly expressed sympathy for feminist aspirations and a more tolerant stance on homosexuality, advocating for a "live and let live" approach.
1980: Anita Bryant Referenced in "More Tales of the City"
In 1980, Armistead Maupin's novel "More Tales of the City" used Anita Bryant's "Save Our Children" campaign as a catalyst for a character's coming out.
1981: Dead Kennedys' Reference
The punk rock band Dead Kennedys mentioned Anita Bryant in their 1981 song "Moral Majority."
1989: Appearance in "Roger & Me"
Anita Bryant appeared in Michael Moore's 1989 documentary, "Roger & Me," where she was interviewed and participated in efforts to revitalize Flint, Michigan's economy.
1990: Second Marriage
Anita Bryant married Charlie Hobson Dry in 1990.
1990: Marriage to Charlie Hobson Dry and Music Mansion Venture
Anita Bryant married Charlie Hobson Dry in 1990. They attempted to revive her music career with "Anita Bryant's Music Mansion" in Branson, Missouri, and Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The venture, which combined musical performances with religious preaching, ultimately failed and filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
1996: Retirement from Show Business
In 1996, Anita Bryant expressed contentment with her retirement from show business.
1997: Bankruptcy Filing in Arkansas
In 1997, Bryant and Dry filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Arkansas due to debts accumulated from a failed show in Eureka Springs, including significant unpaid taxes.
1998: Reinstatement of Miami-Dade County's Anti-Discrimination Ordinance
In 1998, the Miami-Dade County Commission voted to reinstate the ordinance protecting against discrimination based on sexual orientation.
1998: Reinstatement of Dade County Ordinance
The Dade County ordinance that Anita Bryant's campaign repealed was restored in 1998.
2001: Bankruptcy of Music Mansion
Anita Bryant's Music Mansion filed for bankruptcy in 2001.
2002: Rejection of Amendment 14
In 2002, voters rejected Amendment 14, which aimed to repeal the 1998 anti-discrimination law in Miami-Dade County.
2004: Upholding of Florida's Gay Adoption Ban
A federal appellate court upheld Florida's ban on gay adoption in 2004.
2005: Barnsdall Town Centennial and Street Renaming
In 2005, Anita Bryant attended Barnsdall's 100th-anniversary celebration, where a street was renamed in her honor.
2005: Anita Bryant Referenced in "Will and Grace"
In 2005, a "Will and Grace" episode featured Karen Walker referencing her "arch nemesis" Anita Bryant, making a joke about Bryant's past role as a spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission.
2006: Establishment of Anita Bryant Ministries International
Anita Bryant founded Anita Bryant Ministries International in Oklahoma City in 2006.
November 2008: Overturning of Florida's Gay Adoption Ban
In November 2008, a Miami-Dade circuit court overturned the state's ban on gay adoption.
November 25, 2008: Overturning of Gay Adoption Ban
On November 25, 2008, a Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge declared Florida's ban on gay adoption unconstitutional.
2008: Anita Bryant Featured in "Milk"
In 2008, Anita Bryant appeared in archival footage as a key antagonist in the biographical film "Milk," about the life of gay rights activist Harvey Milk.
2011: Anita Bryant as Antagonist in Play
In 2011, a play titled "Anita Bryant Died for Your Sins" featured Anita Bryant as the main antagonist.
2012: Robert Green Jr.'s Comments on Bryant's Views
In 2012, Bryant's son, Robert Green Jr., stated that his mother's strong opposition to gay rights had diminished.
May 2013: Planned Biopic Announced
In May 2013, producers announced a planned HBO biopic about Anita Bryant's life, with Uma Thurman initially slated to star and a script by Chad Hodge.
2016: "Anita Bryant's Playboy Interview" Play
The play "Anita Bryant's Playboy Interview," based on her 1978 magazine piece, premiered in 2016.
2018: Anita Bryant in "The Gospel of Eureka"
In 2018, archive footage of Anita Bryant was featured in "The Gospel of Eureka," a documentary exploring the intersection of LGBT lives and evangelical Christianity in Eureka Springs, Arkansas.
2018: "The Loneliest Girl in the World" Musical Premieres
The musical "The Loneliest Girl in the World," about Anita Bryant, premiered at Diversionary Theatre in San Diego in mid-2018.
2019: Biopic Project Updates
By 2019, the biopic project had seen Ashley Judd and Neil Patrick Harris attached to it.
2021: Granddaughter's Coming Out
In 2021, Anita Bryant's granddaughter, Sarah Green, publicly announced her engagement to a woman and her internal conflict over inviting her grandmother to the wedding.
December 16, 2024: Death of Anita Bryant
Anita Bryant passed away on December 16, 2024.