Anita Bryant, born in 1940, first gained fame as a singer and Miss Oklahoma runner-up in the late 1950s. She became widely known for hits like “Paper Roses” and as a brand ambassador for Florida orange juice in the 1970s. However, Bryant’s legacy is primarily defined by her controversial anti-gay rights activism, particularly her 1977 “Save Our Children” campaign in Dade County, Florida, which successfully repealed a local ordinance protecting gay rights. Her activism led to significant backlash, damaged her entertainment career, and made her a polarizing figure in American culture. When a gay-rights activist slammed a pie into her voice, before breaking into tears, she said, “At least it was a fruit pie.”