FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—Fort Lauderdale elected officials have vowed to “push back” against Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’s stand against “woke” ideology in public institutions, schools, and businesses throughout the state.
One of their first steps: revealing a massive “Progress Pride” flag painted in the middle of a road near Fort Lauderdale Beach.
“This permanent fixture is a celebration of our inclusivity and diversity.”
That law, signed by DeSantis in 2022, basically prohibits teachings for students or employees that imply a person is inherently privileged or oppressed based on race, nationality, gender, or sexual orientation.
Trantalis shared his concerns about the law and its effects in his February newsletter to community residents.
“There have been troubling developments at the state level that strike at the importance of Black History Month,” Trantalis wrote, referring to a battle between the DeSantis administration and the College Board over the content of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course.
DeSantis objected to the course’s content, saying it lacked educational value, was steeped in indoctrination and wrongly focused on topics such as black queer studies.
The board agreed to change some of the materials, drawing backlash from dozens of LGBT groups. Meanwhile, other states have followed Florida’s lead, raising concerns about the course.
“When outrage erupted, the push was changed from outright eliminating the AP curriculum to diluting it through the elimination of critical components,” Trantalis wrote in his newsletter.
He went on to criticize the Stop WOKE Act, saying it “restricted the discussion of diversity issues in public schools, colleges, and workplaces.
“As a society, I believe we need to allow students to learn about issues surrounding race, equality, and diversity so we can learn from the past and be able to think critically as citizens.
“That is how we progress as an inclusive and accepting society,” Trantalis wrote.
Conservative Gays Not as Celebrated
The day after unveiling the flag painted on the roadway, Trantalis, Vice Mayor Warren Sturman, and City Commissioner Steve Glassman walked in the Pride of the Americas Parade. Glassman served as Grand Marshal.
But some residents objected to the leaders’ suggestion that the pride flag painted on the roadway signals the community’s committed to inclusivity.
“Does ‘inclusivity and diversity’ include conservative gays?” a Facebook user identified as Danny Rommel posted on the city’s social media page.
“So you know, they have been kicked out of the Fort Lauderdale LGBT Center.”
Scott, a gay Virginia resident who declined to give his last name, said he'd just disembarked at the Fort Lauderdale cruise terminal from a ship carrying 5,000 gay travelers.
He told The Epoch Times, “It’s kind of strange because we grew up and said ‘We’re gay’ or ‘We’re lesbian’ in the 80s. Now, there are so many people who want to be called a different thing, and it’s confusing to us, almost as much as it is to straight people.”
The Progress Pride flag, now emblazoned on a city roadway, was designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar. It’s a combination of the traditional rainbow-hued, gay pride flag and a new set of stripes in the shape of an arrow.
“The arrow points to the right to show forward movement,” Quasar has said about his creation. It “illustrates that progress” in achieving inclusivity “still needs to be made,” he has said.
The light blue, pink, and white stripes represent transgender and non-binary people, and the brown and black stripes represent so-called “marginalized People of Color (POC) communities,” DEI activists have said.
Live and Let Live
Judy Bonham, who was visiting the area from Lancaster, Ohio, said had a different take on the roadway decor.“It doesn’t bother me because God does not want people to be alone,” Bonham said.
When asked about children who identify as transgender and have sex-change operations, Bonham said, “There’s a lot of things going on right now that God would not like, but what do you do? No one can control everyone and everything.”
Rob Pacienza, the senior pastor at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, said he’s grateful for new laws like the Stop WOKE Act.
“CRT is nothing less than neo-Marxism disguised as ’social justice,'” Pacienza told The Epoch Times in a written statement.
Trantalis argues the flag is a symbol of inclusion. Pacienza disagrees.
“Unfortunately, our mayor here in Fort Lauderdale has promised to use his position and power on the city commission to block this legislation at all costs,” Pacienza said.
“This is unfortunate since CRT is incompatible with a Judeo-Christian worldview, which is foundational to so many in the South Florida faith community.”
Pacienza wonders if a Christian symbol would be allowed in the public square.
“Sadly, the agenda of many politicians is to create a secular public square devoid of religion. For example, the ‘Pride Flag’ can become a permanent fixture in our city—literally painted on our streets.
“Could you imagine the uproar if area churches erected a large cross in a public park? This is the double standard that is pervasive in our society and the agenda of our secular age.”
A DeSantis administration official declined to comment on the Fort Lauderdale mayor’s plan to “push back” against Florida law unless the city commission takes action.
Glassman, Trantalis, and Sturman did not respond to requests for comment about further city plans to “push back” against the Stop WOKE Act, and questions about whether public money was used to pay for the painting of the flag on the roadway.
