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Anita Bryant, Anti-LGBT Crusader, Dies at 84

Her Legacy: Sparking “Houston’s Stonewall” and Igniting LGBTQ Activism

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www.outsmartmagazine.com — History Revisited: Activists’ 1977 protest against antigay crusader Anita Bryant in downtown became known as “Houston’s Stonewall.” (Photo by Glynda Robbins)

Ex-beauty queen and orange juice spokesperson Anita Bryant, best known for her vicious anti-LGBTQ lobbying, died on December 16 at the age of 84 at her home in Oklahoma.

Regardless of Bryant’s intent, her work had a positive impact as well, in that it was a catalyst for protests around the country bringing attention to the LGBTQ-rights struggle in its early days. Houston, for example, saw a protest march through downtown that drew over 8,000 supporters, and became known as “Houston’s Stonewall.”

The event’s importance is celebrated in the Banner Project, a unique collection of pivotal moments in Houston’s LGBTQ history.

Over the years, OutSmart magazine has published several articles discussing Anita Bryant and her impact on Houston’s LGBTQ community. These articles offer insights into her influence on Houston’s queer history and the community’s response to her anti-gay activism.

As LGBT protesters gathered outside The Depository II bar before the march, some struggled with a sense of foreboding. “We braced for the worst, but it had to be done,” recalls transgender activist Phyllis Frye. (Photo by Allan Snyder)

“Houston’s Stonewall, 40 Years Later”
This article reflects on the significant protest against Anita Bryant’s appearance in Houston on June 16, 1977, which drew thousands to the streets and became a pivotal moment in Texas LGBTQ history.

Then and now: Montrose Clinic opened in 1981 at 104 Westheimer.

“An Amazing 30-Year Evolution”
This piece, about the founding and evolution of Legacy Community Health, features insights from activist Ray Hill, who notes that before the massive anti-Anita Bryant rally in 1977, the gay community was primarily associated with bars. The rally, which saw over 8,000 local LGBTQ individuals and allies protesting at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, marked a turning point in community mobilization.

Town Meeting I, from which several enduring LGBTQ organizations emerged, was held on June 25, 1978, in the Astro Arena.

“A Brief History of Houston Pride”
This article provides an overview of Houston’s Pride celebrations, highlighting the 1977 protest against Anita Bryant as a catalyst for the city’s LGBTQ activism and the subsequent establishment of annual Pride events.

Activist Ray Hill on the Houston Protest
In 2013, JD Doyle’s Queer Music Heritage featured an interview with Ray Hill in which the legendary activist discussed the Houston protest march, dubbed “Houston’s Stonewall,” in June of 1977.

Despite her best efforts to keep queer people in the closet, Anita Bryant’s work ended up having the opposite effect, providing the spark that led to countless advancements in LGBTQ rights.