How Anita Bryant’s Miami anti-gay campaign pioneered today’s parental rights movement

Miami Herald ^ | January 13, 2025 | Linda Robertson and Devoun Cetoute

[fwdude]

Nearly half a century after Anita Bryant made Miami the crucible in the fight for gay rights, she has died of cancer in Edmond, Oklahoma, at age 84. But her cause, once mocked as intolerant and self-righteous, has been revived by members of today’s conservative Christian movement who warn that homosexuality is a threat to children. Bryant and her Save Our Children coalition — later changed to Protect America’s Children — led a successful 1977 campaign to overturn a Dade County ordinance prohibiting discrimination against gays. It took the county 21 years to restore the law.

Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article298335973.html#storylink=cpy

[fwdude]

It's hard to believe that as early as 1976 there were "non-discrimination ordinances" "protecting" queers, and in a state where homosexual sodomy was illegal.

Anita was a courageous warrior. Wish we had a lot more like her today.

[fwdude]

From what I’ve read, the non-discrimination ordinance even denied private parochial Christian schools from turning down homosexuals applying for jobs. Anita’s campaign was legitimate and crucial.

[BenLurkin]

The left will no doubt someday claim that protecting children from the Spirit Cooking crowd is “intolerant and self-righteous.”

[lee martell]

Anita must have had some very lonely, rather idle years after she became the national Hate Target of many gays.
I was young then, but I recall hearing about her losing all these sponsorships and entertainment contracts. She must have found some way to keep going, though, considering that she made it to an advanced old age. Maybe she still had a strong support group around her.

[shelterguy]

I remember that era. She was famous for orange juice commercials, as I recall. But when she spoke out about the gay homosexuals she was in trouble.

[Lisbon1940]

Now orange juice is in trouble.

[jeffersondem]

Even Paul Harvey took a veiled shot at her on one of his broadcasts.

He went down a notch in my opinion.

She had right on her side and that is all any of us need.

[SharpRightTurn]

The Miami Herald’s message: Perverts, Unite!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I remember her fight against the homos trying to take over Florida. The news media turned on her like a junk yard dog.

[Nea Wood]

I believe it was she who had a pie thrown in her face by an angry pro-gay protestor. She quipped, “Well, at least it’s a fruit pie.”

[MikelTackNailer]

Ahead of her time, she saw the ruin an unleashed Homosexual Agenda could wreak on society. How right she was!

In two decades we’ve gone from “We just want legal recognition like male and female partnerships have” to “Allow gay Scout Masters and Drag Queen story hours or you will be socially ostracized”.

Their ‘closet’ is like Pandora’s Box: once opened can never be shut again. I take some comfort that no matter what chaos they cause on Earth they, like the rest of us, will be answerable for their actions before the One who sees all. Word has it He’s pretty tough on those who wrong children.

[MikelTackNailer]

Oops - got to abide by unofficial FR rules: talk about a babe you have to post pictures.

Successful recording career

Huge USO supporter

This mid 1970s pro-homo poster surely backfired

Wasn't above making fun of her image

Loved the troops and fans all her life

[lee martell]

If Anita had not hit that Public Relations ‘Speed Bump’, she could have easily had a later career in politics.
Looks, charisma and poise.
But, it just was not meant to be.

[SaveFerris]

[Ahead of her time, she saw the ruin an unleashed Homosexual Agenda could wreak on society. How right she was!]

That is certainly correct - a couple of years ago I was flipping channels and then this Sean Penn movie came on - I didn't know what it was - turns out Sean Penn was playing Harvey Milk (of course) - I had no idea that Harvey Milk was targeting Anita Bryant way back when - I think I saw about the last 1/3 of that movie

We're in the Last Days before the 7-year Tribulation.

--------------------------------

Genesis 19:27-28 KJV

27 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord:

28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+19%3A27-28&version=KJV

[antceecee]

I remember her bravery calling out the ‘gay’ lobby.

[SaveFerris]

I remember singer Paul Williams took out full-page ads on how he and his wife were no longer drinking Florida orange juice

Then one of the idiots in Styx mentioned her getting attacked with a pie in the face (don’t remember which idiot it was)

I DO remember where I was on the freeway when I heard that on the radio though

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footnote: Higgins died of AIDS complications on November 10, 1994. (age 44)

Higgins attacked Anita Bryant in December of 1977. Before AIDS became a thing. Maybe if he had listened to her ...

[SaveFerris]

Anita Bryant lived 30+ years after her attacker died, BTW

[MikelTackNailer]

I had no idea that Harvey Milk was targeting Anita Bryant way back when - I think I saw about the last 1/3 of that movie.

Pretty sure they eventually uncovered Harvey Milk as a notorious pedophile. Sorry, Sean Penn - you're going to have to find a more virtuous homo to portray in order to pay penance for "Heh, heh. Those dudes are fags!"

Good luck with that.

[Ennis85]

She also outlived all the golden girls who attacked her on their own show.

[SaveFerris]

Oh, I didn’t remember that they had done that

Cool! - thanks for the info