Days Without Sunshine: Anita Bryant's Anti-Gay Crusade

Headed to Central Florida? I bet the last thing on your mind while visiting this vacation hot spot is paying Anita Bryant a visit. But for those who didn't get enough nostalgia of her infamous anti-gay crusade while watching "Milk" on the big screen, Bryant is also the subject of a popular traveling exhibit.

The Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Community Center of Central Florida in Orlando is hosting "Days Without Sunshine: Anita Bryant's Anti-Gay Crusade". The show will run there through January 28th.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, the exhibit of 20 panels traces Bryant's rise as the celebrity face of conservative Christian politics. Her "Save Our Children" campaign influenced the passage of Florida's gay-adoption ban in 1977.

Can't make it to Orlando to see it in-person? Take a virtual tour of all 20 panels, courtesy of the Stonewall Library & Archives .

Image c/o Amazon

Comments

[elvis singleton]

I remember those days, bashing was the rule of law at the time. ah those were the days when two bit con artist such as anita bryant, should ever make a beauty queen image, and be idolised by so many, be so lost, it was the fame and fortune which was her demise, for she forgot, not to bite the hand that feeds her.
that was my take on the A.B. story.

[queerunity]

i would love to see the exhibition it sounds fascinating, i can watch the video of her pied over and over again.
http://www.queersunited.blogspot.com

[John73542]

I remember those days. To this day I've not bought an orange or orange juice from Florida. If I don't see a 'grown in Texas or California' sticker or Mfg label, I don't buy it; it's that simple. This has been a 30+ year boycott and still ongoing. "Actions have consequences" and sometimes they're long-lasting.

John

[tony]

I dont buy anything from florida and think no one should go there till they change things just think of all the money we spend there as you no there is noting cheap about us gay folk

[jphineas]

Alas,

Like sarah Palin this woman just needs to go away, back to her dismal life and broom flying. If were lucky maybe womeone will throw water on her

[Bruce Lucenta]

I think you are all terribly hard on poor Anita. She was influenced by the wrong people and made a serious mistake. I saw her here in Tulsa some years ago and she was a very paranoid, nervous and terrified woman. So scared that she literally ran when she realized that I recognized her. She is to be pitied.

[Adam]

Bruce, you think we should pity her? I beg to differ. I think she is getting exactly what she deserves. Let me phrase it just like Anita would understand. "As Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap", and in the 70s man did she sow. She spewed nothing but hate and vengeance towards the LGBT community, and for what reason? Those were her convictions and I don't mind in the least bit that she stuck to her guns.

But when you do stick your head out there like she did you better be prepared to suffer reactions to your actions. I don't care if it's 30+ years ago. If you were willing to make a stand back then you had better be willing to take that same stand now and hold true to your convictions.

I don't care that she's now a scared, bitter old woman. She still feels the same way towards our community and hasn't recanted her opinion of us. Should we lesson our opinion of her because she's scared? Not one bit! Will I go out of my way to bash her or cause her more pain, no, but she doesn't deserve my pity either.

[Arthur Graves]

I wonder if they talk about her husban leaving her for the yard man.

[Gary]

i've never heard of her.

I guess I am not like other gay people because when I dislike someone I don't love to hate.

I avoid them at all costs...

[sirald66]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anita_Bryant

'In a 1980 Ladies Home Journal article, she said that she felt sorry for all of the anti-gay things she had said and done during her campaigns. She said that she had adopted a more "live and let live" attitude.'

'but while heading Anita Bryant Ministries International. The ministry's web site features two articles championing her long-standing opposition to the "homosexual agenda".'

Her web site's main page appears down, but here is the About Me section:

http://www.anitabmi.org/3.html

[TransSteff]

To all the pioneers who survived her, and the the oppression of the 70's and 80's, I wish to say thank you. You have paved the way for all members of the GBLT community. I have so much respaect and admiration for all of you ahead of me. You have sacrificed and given to so much to my generation. Without you, I know I would not have the bravery to be myself. It is because of your inspiration that I can show pride in myself. This woman is nothing but a typical confused soul who makes true Christians look like hate mongers. I am a born again Christian Transgender who found refuge, love, and acceptance in a church. The true message of Jesus is Love. Do not pity her, pray for her.

[tj]

But what about now? What would Anita have to say about gay marriage? ^_^

http://www.cafepress.com/studio_57.291970588

But should we be travelling to Florida for a gay-themed event when Florida passed Amendment 2 by 3%?

[Adam]

Why are people not buying oranges from Florida? The industry fired her after she made her anti-gay statements. To me that is more of a reason to buy Florida oranges.

[splerk]

Well I guess we all burn in our own hell we create for ourselves here on earth at the last 11th hour of death in this life.
See what happens when you claim to be Holier than though, by passing judgement on others.
That is a sin too.
Good luck with that YOU ALL.

[splerk]

One Nation Under ALL MIGHTY God.
United we Stand in inEquality.

[splerk]

And God Help me with my Spelling Problem.

[autahbear4ltr]

you know what they say most homophobics
have skeletons in their own closets

[Radioriot]

The thing I remember most about all of this is that as a gay teenager in small town Indiana, I learned in the newspaper that you swallow after you suck. There was a story about Anita being upset when she learned gays swallow. I will never forget that. The newpaper talking so openly about gay sex, ironically because of Anita. hehehe

[Jett]

She has a great voice, I love listening to her old recordings.

[TonyP]

Interesting comments. Yes she is a lot like Sara Palin in so many ways. I was a very young kid back then and I can still remember thinking 'what was her problem.' However this is probably the most anti gay, gay opinion offered in this blog but I think she did more for the gay movement than anyone else in recent history. Seriously if she didn't shoot off her big stupid mouth and shout out some of the dumbest thoughtless uneducated ignorant crap then we would have never made the national headlines and probably never had a cause to fight for that has gotten to where we are. Sadly although I think Sarah Palin is the biggest insult to intelligent women worldwide, I think she might have cluelessly done the same thing. Often time’s stupid people don’t realize what an advantage their stupid mouths are to others when the stupid things you say are actually heard by folks who can decipher the stupidity and irrationality of those prejudices.

[Kevin]

This woman hurt a lot of people in her misguided effort to "save" many. I think these kinds of zealots lose sight of the fact their actions have very little to do with the crusade itself, and much more to do with their basking in the limelight and compensating for their own lack of self esteem. Unfortunately, many of them learn this too late in their life an often come to regret it. We all live and learn, and our opinions change and mature. I think however when we can see individuals suffering, hurting, perhaps even dying as result of our idealism, we should examine and question whether we are really acting with integrity.

[Jim]

Do you realize that Anita is responsible for launching Kathy Lee Giffords career. I can't stand her either. Just another reason to dislike Anita.

[Mike Stevens]

Anita? Thought she croaked a century ago.....

[Mikey]

Florida continues to pass anti-gay legislation in spite of the fact that thousands upon thousands of gay men travel to Fort Lauderdale, Key West and South Beach every year to spend our hard earned money. I personally refuse to vacation in Florida anymore in spite of the fact that I love Key West. I think a boycott of Flordia by GLBT peeople would be very much in order.

[Tyree]

"Like sarah Palin this woman just needs to go away, back to her dismal life and broom flying. If were lucky maybe womeone will throw water on her"

Unlike Anita Bryant, Sarah Palin worked FOR domestic partnership rights in her state. Before Sarah Palin's advocacy, as governor of Alaska, 60% of Alaskans OPPOSED domestic partnership in Alaska. After Palin's advocacy as governor of Alaska, 60% of Alaskans SUPPORTED domestic partnership.

Betcha didn't know that!

It's almost amazing how ignorant some queers are about things. Maybe you just hate Sarah Palin because that's what you've been told to do.

[Love your neighbor]

It would be nice to see the gay community be the change they want in the world. Imagine starting with forgiveness (including Anita Bryant, Florida, and whomever else has done wrong); then expanding the scope to include reaching out and doing good works for more than just our own "community." We can show we also represent the best in humanity, too.

I learned the hard way, but thank God I did:

If you want kindness, do kindness. If you want forgiveness, forgive. If you want love, show love.

And that means everybody. Even Anita.

[Jason-wpg]

Anita who? I've never even heard of her. But then again, I was only born in '77.

[richard]

Wait . Why would a conserative such as yourself be posing with a boa ?! I can imagine what Sunday service must look like.Passing out sanctimonous nods , fluffing the folds of your gown all the while.....Red?! Please thats enough omission of your tack.I've seen thru the mabeline and did not a stitch of righteousness in the gown , talk to the hand sister !

[Rain City Blues]

Has anybody noticed that religious wingnuts are even bigger drama queens than we could ever hope to be?

What, does it not count as religious truth unless you vamp it up when you're screaming it at people? Does every instance where someone doesn't agree with your religion have to be the end of the world? And why do the lines in the Bible have to be so over the top? I swear, I've never read dialogues written this badly in my life. It's as if Mesopotamia was populated by B-movie actors and actresses and an idiotic director with no sense of subtlety or delicacy.

Seriously, religion is so overdone. That's why it doesn't really convince anyone past puberty except those who live in these little closed communities that never get out and see the world for what it is. Because in real life, talking to a burning bush and claiming you have a direct link to the divine usually only happens if you're crazy or intoxicated. Usually on hallucinogens.