Visit Lauderdale, the public dollar-funded tourism agency, wanted to send a political message with its float in the 135th annual Rose Parade in Pasadena, California. According to the Los Angeles Times:
Stacy Ritter knew she had to do something big to distinguish Fort Lauderdale from Ron DeSantis.
The Florida governor had spent more than a year attacking LGBTQ+ rights, and the Broward County seat was suffering. In 2023 alone, 18 conferences pulled bookings from the county, repelled by the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” bill and DeSantis’ forays against queer and trans people and reproductive rights, among other targets.
https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-12-31/rose-parade-2024-visit-lauderdale
What did Ritter and Visit Lauderdale pay for?
A brussel sprout-festooned float with a rapper, dancers, some Florida Panthers supporters and way too much blue smoke.
Also, two umbrellas at front of the float appeared to be rainbow colored.
Was this really a good use of money?
Really????
The Rainbow Flag has colors that appear in the same sequence: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green Blue, Purple. It would be obvious to any member of the LGBTQ+ community, or their allies, that the umbrellas on the float are NOT representative of the LGBTQ+ flag. Nice try to start something that isn’t.
Did you read Ritter’s numerous comments? This was her plan. Unfortunately, I wasn’t at the parade and the view on television was not clear. So I cannot definitely say if the umbrellas were representative of the rainbow (and transgender) flag.
I liked it and thought it did a good job showing off Ft Lauderdale. Our sports teams are nationally recognized and Broward is a great home. I didn’t notice anything to do with LGBTQ stuff. I live the Rose bowl and those floats are amazing
Exactly Patti. The headline of Tom’s article was clearly created out of thin air. Dud? There is actually nothing at all expressed in the article he attaches from the LA times that remotely supports the “off-the-top-of-his-head” and fictitious headline. It is pure click bait. In fact, the end of the article quotes residents of Broward County obviously pleased by the float and its theme of inclusivity; a theme that apparently breeds fear from Tom’s “Red” publication. All so very predictable.
Another year, another comment from my number one fan! As always, thanks for reading Eric.
The brussel sprouts added a nice touch.