Florida has declared war on what Queer News Tonight has called “The Gayest Place On Planet Earth”. Today the Florida Department of Transportation has said rainbow embracements in Wilton Manors, Fort Lauderdale and Miami Beach must remove their city rainbow crosswalks or face major funding retribution from the State. Miami Beach Commissioner Joseph Magazine said on Facebook that the State informed Miami Beach that the city
“must remove all ‘artistic crosswalks,’ specifically the rainbow colored crosswalk on Ocean Drive and 12th Street, which has for so long stood as a welcoming sign to our LGBT community… This is complete and utter bullshit that the state has no business getting involved in… I am unequivocal in my support and championing of our LGBT community and that crosswalk was a welcome sign for everyone. It bothered no one.”
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, a member of the LGBTQ community, said he expects that the city will soon be questioned about its street designs including the rainbow art along Fort Lauderdale Beach. He said
“It had been determined that if we brightened up a certain intersection, it would bring people’s attention that they’re entering an intersection.”
Trantalis was asked today what Fort Lauderdale will do if they receive the FDOT letter and he said “We have to wait to see what the letter says.”
A representative from the City of Wilton Manors who asked to not be named said the Rainbow Bridge on Wilton Drive has been questioned. The representative indicated the argument with FDOT will focus on the argument that it is a design on the side of the road, not the state road directly.
The state gave similar orders recently to Delray Beach and Key West, which plan to fight the mandate. The Florida Department of Transportation has warned that noncompliance beyond September 3 could lead to state funding cuts.
Miami Beach Republican Rep. Fabián Basabe, who voted in 2023 to expand Florida’s restrictions on classroom LGBTQ inclusion to all public school grades, sent a letter Tuesday requesting a public hearing on the matter. Basabe said
“My LGBTQ community in particular has expressed that they constantly feel under attack…It is important to me that the State listen to these voices directly, in a fair and transparent process that respects everyone who calls Miami Beach home.”
Queer News Tonight’s Al Ferguson spoke to Basabe today and said this is largely performative politics and that there are many solutions that must be pursued.
Queer News Tonight will be following this developing story closely.
