The LGBTQ+ community in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been the target of yet another act of vandalism, which the city's gay mayor, Dean Trentalis, has described as part of a "creeping level of hate" towards the LGBTQ+ community in the city. The incident involved the vandalism of a 75-foot Progressive Pride flag Street installation, located at historic Sebastian and A1A on Fort Lauderdale Beach, which was introduced on February 10th in advance of Pride of the Americas. The installation was designed to be a tribute to the LGBTQ+ community in Fort Lauderdale, a city that has made significant progress in embracing diversity and inclusivity since the 1970s.
In an exclusive interview with queer news tonight lead Anchor Al Ferguson, Mayor Trent incident, said, "This is a horrible act of hate. We have a creeping level of hate happening in our community right now, and it's got to stop. We have to speak out against it, and we have to show that this kind of hate has no place in our city."
The vandalism, which occurred over the weekend, involved the defacement of the Pride flag with spray paint, resulting in significant damage to the installation. Mayor Trentalis has since condemned the act, emphasizing that it goes against everything that the city stands for.
"We have to recognize that this is not just about a flag," he said. "This is about people who are being targeted and victimized because of who they are. We have to stand together and show that we will not tolerate hate, bigotry, or discrimination in our city."
Mayor Trentalis's comments have been echoed by members of the LGBTQ+ community and allies in Fort Lauderdale, who have expressed their outrage over the incident. Many have also called for increased protection and support for the community, particularly during Pride month, which is celebrated in June.
The incident comes at a time when hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community are on the rise in the United States, with a recent report by the Human Rights Campaign revealing that there were at least 44 deaths of transgender and gender non-conforming people in 2020, making it the deadliest year on record.
Mayor Trentalis has called for unity in the face of this troubling trend, stating, "We have to come together as a community and say that we will not stand for this. We will not let hate divide us. We are a city that embraces diversity and inclusivity, and we will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of all people."
Statement from Mayor Dean Trentalis:
"This is a horrible act of hate. We have a creeping level of hate happening in our community right now, and it's got to stop. We have to speak out against it, and we have to show that this kind of hate has no place in our city. We have to recognize that this is not just about a flag. This is about people who are being targeted and victimized because of who they are. We have to stand together and show that we will not tolerate hate, bigotry, or discrimination in our city. We have to come together as a community and say that we will not stand for this. We will not let hate divide us. We are a city that embraces diversity and inclusivity, and we will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of all people."
