Anita Bryant, who performed at the Araneta Coliseum in Cubao during the height of her popularity in the mid-1960’s, is dead. She was 84.

Well-loved by international audiences, including Filipinos, for her rendition of “Paper Roses”,”In My LIttle Corner of the World” and “Till There Was You”, Bryant died at her home in Edmond, Oklahoma on December 16, 2024, but announcement of her demise came only on Thursday (January 9).

A former Miss Oklahoma, her popularity was tainted by controversy for her anti-gay rights campaign in the United States.

She won the beauty pageant at age of 18 but later proceeded to become one of America’s hitmaker.

Bryant sang at White House for then President Lyndon B. Johnson and also gracedf Republican and Democratic conventions.

Her visit to the Philippines in the 1960’s showed how Filipinos adored her. Her Araneta Coliseum concert was a hit.

She was named spokeswoman for the Florida Citrus Commission and popularized the commercials tagline “Breakfast without orange juice is like a day without sunshine.”

From then on, she appeared in advertisements for Holiday Inn, Tupperware, Coca Cola and Kraft Foods.

In the middle of 1970’s, Bryant led a well-publicized campaign against gay rights as she sought the repeal of a Dade County Ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

She explained that her campaign followed her conservative Christian beliefs regarding the sinfulness of homosexuality.

The gay community retaliated with a campaign of their own - hitting the singer.

Slogans such as “A day without human rights is like a day without sunshine” were carried on bumper stickers, buttons and T-shirts.

Bryant’s political activism hurt her businesses and popularity leading to a decline to her career and investment bankruptcies.