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?
