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Anita Bryant (b. 1940) was an extremely successful singer and commercial endorser who became an early opponent of homosexuality.  As a result, the entertainment and corporate world ostracized her.

Anita Bryant (b. 1940) was an extremely successful singer and commercial endorser who became an early opponent of homosexuality.  As a result, the entertainment and corporate world ostracized her.

A devout Christian born and raised in [[Oklahoma]], Bryant won the prestigious talent competition of [[Arthur Godfrey]] at age 16, was runner-up in the Miss America competition at age 19, and next recorded three smash popular hit songs, of which a couple were imitated later by famous groups such as the [[Beatles]].  In the late 1960s and 1970s Anita Bryant became one of the most successful endorsers of goods, most famously Florida orange juice.  She was as popular as any rock star today, and had such broad appeal that she performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl III in 1969 and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the burial of former President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1973.

A devout Christian born and raised in [[Oklahoma]], Bryant won the prestigious talent competition of Arthur Godfrey at age 16, was runner-up in the Miss America competition at age 19, and next recorded three smash popular hit songs, of which a couple were imitated later by famous groups such as the [[Beatles]].  In the late 1960s and 1970s Anita Bryant became one of the most successful endorsers of goods, most famously Florida orange juice.  She was as popular as any rock star today, and had such broad appeal that she performed the National Anthem at Super Bowl III in 1969 and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the burial of former President [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] in 1973.

Living in South Florida, Bryant saw Florida's Dade County (now Miami-Dade County) pass an ordinance in 1977 granting anti-discrimination rights to homosexuals.  Bryant successfully led an effort to repeal this ordinance in a referendum that passed in a landslide vote of 69% to 31%.  She said her main concern was the recruitment of children into the homosexual lifestyle, and she founded a group called Save Our Children for that purpose.  It was not until 1998 that Miami-Dade County reinstated the ordinance by a narrow 7-6 vote.

Living in South Florida, Bryant saw Florida's Dade County (now Miami-Dade County) pass an ordinance in 1977 granting anti-discrimination rights to homosexuals.  Bryant successfully led an effort to repeal this ordinance in a referendum that passed in a landslide vote of 69% to 31%.  She said her main concern was the recruitment of children into the homosexual lifestyle, and she founded a group called Save Our Children for that purpose.  It was not until 1998 that Miami-Dade County reinstated the ordinance by a narrow 7-6 vote.