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Last month we reported on how Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was marking Pride Month in the most petty way possible. As part of his “Freedom Summer” initiative, major Florida bridges would be lit in red, white and blue between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
This, of course, means no special lighting to mark events such as Pride Month or Juneteenth.
Bridges such as the Sunshine Skyway over Tampa Bay and the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota, among others, usually have rainbow lights for a few days each Pride Month.
Many LGBTQ+ people and allies in the state were unhappy about this. Some decided to protest in the best way possible on Friday night. They walked onto the Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville with flashlights. They then lit up the bridge for a short while with rainbow colors.
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I love my city! In response to Gov. Ron DeSantis banning Pride lights being displayed on bridges in Florida this year, dozens of local residents used different color flashlights to project a rainbow on the Main Street Bridge in downtown Jacksonville.
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) June 1, 2024
Picture: @JimmyMidyette pic.twitter.com/MBv3VQwVOH
Florida won't light bridges in rainbow colors. So Jacksonville's LGBTQ community did. F you Ron DeSantis! #PrideMonth https://t.co/tuGsI7LU9Y via @jaxdotcom
— Lesley Abravanel 🪩 (@lesleyabravanel) June 1, 2024
The organizers are a group called “Pride In Our Freedom”, according to News4Jax.
Jacksonville.com reports that around 70 protestors walked along the pedestrian walkway beside the Main Street bridge.
“I thought it came off great,” Jacksonville resident Matt McAllister, who helped organize the lighting event, told the media outlet.
“We thought we’d get 35 people for the bridge,” he said. “We thought that would be a good night — that we’d get a couple of pictures and send them to our friends and say we did something. That this took off in such a way is so pleasing.”
Sometimes, peaceful resistance is showing up and holding a flashlight 🫶❤️💛💚 Happy Pride 💚💙💜🫶 https://t.co/D6RLH2VLct pic.twitter.com/yh2luma03b
— Mabs Makes Stuff ٩(^ᴗ^)۶ (@Dammit__Woman) June 1, 2024
The bridge also had its red, white and blue lights running down its middle.
McAllister said he was on honeymoon in Leipzig, Germany, when he heard about the decision not to allow rainbow lights on the bridges. The city was formerly part of East Germany. McAllister, aware of Leipzig’s history, found the DeSantis administration’s orders chilling.
“Freedom is unnecessary if there is no diversity, and diversity is impossible without freedom,” McAllister told News4Jax. “So tonight, what you’ll see in symbolic light is the red, white and blue that symbolizes our freedom.”
“And, of course, the rainbow, which symbolizes our diversity, that these aren’t mutually exclusive. In fact, they can only exist in and of one another. And I think that’s a beautiful message.”
Fellow resident Sherwin Salla, who joined in the event with an orange flashlight, said, “The biggest thing was just showing solidarity and making sure that our freedom is holding. It was more of a fun celebration to show our community that we still stand strong.”
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris mark Pride Month
Unsurprisingly, Ron DeSantis did not issue any Pride Month messages on his social media. However, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both did so – prompting thousands of angry comments from some conservatives.
For generations, LGBTQI+ Americans have summoned the courage to live proudly – even when it meant putting their lives at risk.
— President Biden (@POTUS) June 1, 2024
This Pride Month, we recommit to realizing the promise of America for all, to celebrating LGBTQI+ people, and to taking pride in the example they set. pic.twitter.com/d9cBiGoKCr
My message to LGBTQI+ Americans: We see you. We hear you. And we celebrate you.
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2024
Happy Pride! pic.twitter.com/1S2fRuSoZn
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Ron DeSantis marks Pride Month in the most petty, Ron DeSantis way imaginable
This screams “Don’t Say Gay”.
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GOP Rep. demands he join Pride parade despite organizers not wanting him there
A Florida Republican state Representative is considering legal action after Miami Beach Pride organizers barred him from riding in this year’s parade. The event is due to take place on April 14. Former reality TV star Fabian Basabe, 46, was elected to the State House in 2022. He campaigned as a moderate Republican, voicing left-leaning […]
abfab
Thwarted. Love that.
Woody
Strict adherence, no deviation and you will like it.
Woody
Don’t you just love strangers that you will never meet celebrating your s e x u a l i t y?
abfab
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Woody
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abfab
The child Baron has made another return with a new name.
Woody
Joey approval now under 50% in all 50 states. 🙁
wade.l
I wonder which is smaller….the woody or the brain?
barryaksarben
I do and I will celebrate anyones sexuality even the virgin incels who no one wants but hey I celebrate whatever weird stuff they are into except the violence against all the rest of us who dont want them ourselves. It is sad tat. instead of working on themselves they are too damaged to understand the problem is in them not any0ne else. Ive seen a few who are not ugly on the outside but that inside is just to screwed up. I celebrate you come answer me take up my time try to. insult or change me I embrace your puny attempts to anger or even get my attention as you are sooooo boring with your simple and strange view of the world. It does come down to LOVE and no one loves you , I get it but it isn’t our fault ute is yours
barryaksarben
my dear Baron, I have missed you dear. mommy make you stay upstairs with the rest of the family for a while? figured, she doesn’t understand your important work on the internet now does she?
Woody
Grammar is your friend; do not fear it.
abfab
the pedantic, friendless, logcabinqueen is back
abfab
good to see you again barry
inbama
Today the FDA recalled cucs from Fla.
Japrey
DeSantis is possessed by his obsession with all thing GLBT.
abfab
Similar to Woody.