Ron DeSantis bans pride month lights, claims its for freedom in latest LGBTQ attack

With just a little over a week until Pride month, Florida Governor and failed Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has banned the use of colorful lights on transportation infrastructure as part of a move he calls "Freedom Summer," which many are criticizing as an obvious homophobic attack on the LGBT community.

The order goes beyond Pride , unfortunately barring other cities who regularly create picturesque arrays of light for other holidays or awareness events from May 27 through September 2. Instead, bridges may only be illuminated with red, white and blue. The plan was shared by Jared Perdue, the state's Department of Transportation Secretary, on social media in recent weeks.

“As Floridians prepare for Freedom Summer, Florida’s bridges will follow suit, illuminating in red, white, and blue from Memorial Day through Labor Day!” Perdue wrote on X. “Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida continues to be the freest state in the nation.”

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The decision is seen as a direct attack on the LGBTQ+ community, which has been subjected to such incursions from DeSantis' office in recent years. The order is a blow to various residents as a number of bridges display the rainbow Pride colors in June to celebrate the LGBTQ+.

The far right right-wing politician has passed seemingly anti-queer community laws in the past but this blatant display appears even less covert. He centered the antagonism of LGBTQ people in his disastrous bid to win the Republican primary for this year's presidential election.

“The bridge lights were about celebrating diversity and inclusion, which will continue to happen in our communities,” said Carlos Guillermo Smith, Equality Florida’s senior policy adviser. “LGBTQ Floridians will proudly raise our flags even higher and our lights will only shine brighter in the darkness they’ve created.”

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The ban on bridge lights seemingly spawned from a complaint by Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn, who objected to the use of lights for Pride month and National Gun Awareness Month on the Sunshine Skyway in St. Petersburg.

The bridge also lights yellow for Women's Equality Day on August 26. The state controls the lights, local officials say, but usually abide by requests from county and city politicians if they are asked in advance.

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