I vaguely remember the "controversy" going on in the mid-seventies as a fairly sheltered early teen. I heard both sides of the characterization, and remembered that I was confused at which was correct, that she was defending righteousness or that she was a "bigot."
Indeed. I experienced the same conflict. As I matured I realized that the vilification of Anita Bryant was what opened the door to all the horrific nonsense that we are facing today on this issue.