DeSantis Admin Orders Jacksonville Bridge Stripped of LGBTQ Pleasure Month Rainbow Lights One Day After Turned On

By Last updated Jun 9, 2021

Republicans from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis or someone in his administration ordered Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville to remove a special rainbow light display for LGBTQ Pride Month just one day after it was turned on.

Happy #pride Jacksonville! Capture these colors on the Acosta Bridge all week.

by Fred Ortyl pic.twitter.com/110dDWXFfz

– Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) (@JTAFLA) June 8, 2021

The Florida Times-Union reports that the order came from the Florida Department of Transportation, which directed the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to remove the display. The FDOT owns the bridge even though it is controlled by the JTA.

“This afternoon, the FDOT informed the JTA that our planned color scheme for the Acosta Bridge does not match our existing approval. The JTA will comply accordingly, “said the Jacksonville Transportation Authority in a statement.

But Nate Monroe, Metro columnist for the Florida Times-Union, says there is “almost no way this wasn’t coming from the governor’s office. JTA has illuminated the bridge with all possible colors on all possible occasions, so far without resistance. “

Feel free to tag @ChristinaPushaw to do so. There’s almost no way this wasn’t coming from the governor’s office. JTA has illuminated the bridge with all possible colors on all possible occasions without any pushback yet.

– Nate Monroe (@NateMonroeTU) June 9, 2021

He also encouraged social media users to chat with the Gov. Contacting DeSantis who is a fan of lightshows, at least some lightshows:

#DontFauciMyFlorida pic.twitter.com/qGwYcXD2h3

– Christina Pushaw (@ChristinaPushaw) June 7, 2021

Requests for Pride Month displays on other bridges, including in Sarasota and St. Petersburg, have reportedly been denied.

Florida’s first LGBTQ Latinx lawmaker was outraged:

Let me get this STRAIGHT @MyFDOT by @GovRonDeSantis has REMOVED the rainbow lights # Pride2021 on a Jax Bridge?!?

Rainbow Bridge in Sarasota REJECTED ?!

Should LGBTQ Floridians benefit or BELIEVE HIM if he shows us who he is? Https: //t.co/mkH07foS0n

– Rep. Carlos G Smith (@CarlosGSmith) June 9, 2021

The Senior Political Director of Equality Florida notes that DeSantis has used LGBTQ Pride Month several times to attack LGBTQ people:

After the start of Pride Month, aimed at trans children and pulse shooting survivors, the DeSantis administration turned off the lighting on Jacksonville’s Acosta Bridge in rainbow LED lights for Pride. #flapol https://t.co/AOhy0NKj8o

– Joe Saunders (@JoeSaundersEQFL) June 9, 2021

An investigative reporter and executive producer at WTLV / WJXX weighs up other permitted events (more examples on her Twitter page):

do you remember the Christmas lights a few months ago? pic.twitter.com/0tUIFn4D9W