what’s going on in Fort Lauderdale?
David on Aug 25th 2007
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jim Nuagle’s continuing anti-LGBTQ crusade just kicked things into high-gear at a recent press conference. To read the full story, check out this article on Good As You and read the excerpt below:
Others in attendance at the Naugle press conference included the newly formed Healthypublicplaces.com coalition, which, according to their own press release, is a consortium whose members come from such extremist groups as Americans for Truth, Concerned Women for America, Coral Ridge Ministries, Faith2Action, and Stephen Bennett Ministries. So basically you have a mayor demonizing gays as public sex-loving perverts, and joining arm-in-arm with some of our community’s most frighteningly antipathetic adversaries to do so. And the thing is, these aren’t even more mainstream opponents like James Dobson or Tony Perkins. No, we’re talking about the mayor of a heavily gay-populated city joining ranks with a fringe element of “pro-family” foes who truly seem to want us to be rendered “ex-gay” or else!! This is not only a sad development, but also a REALLY, REALLY SCARY one!
Florida is a scary place to be these days; it’s the only state with a flat out ban on adoption by gay parents - and now this! It’s salt in the wounds.
Filed in adoption, children, general |
I grew-up in the conservative Midwest, then spent about 12 years in exuberantly liberal San Francisco, and now I’m in Ft. Lauderdale - where I’m currently very uncomfortable.
I’ve written emails to Broward county commissioners and Ft. Lauderdale city commissioners – and I included a link to my daughter’s website - to emphasize I’m a devoted family man with concerns about Mayor Naugle. Some county commissioners have been the only ones to respond. I’ve sent 2 emails to Ft. Lauderdale city commissioners, and none of the city commissioners have replied.
Broward County Commissioners Ken Keechl, Ilene Lieberman, Stacy Ritter, and John E. Rodstrom, Jr. all responded with individual emails. I’ve included them below to give readers hope that there are fair-minded elected leaders in the Ft. Lauderdale area.
In his email response to me, Ken said:
Hi Jeff:
Mr. Naugle is an embarrassment. As you know, I have criticized him in the press, at the recent rally and from the dais. At this point, there is nothing else the County Commission can legally do. However, I believe the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission has the power to censure him.
My best to you and the family,
Ken Keechl
Ilene Lieberman wrote:
Dear Jeff:
I am as frustrated as you that the media continues to give the Mayor a forum for his outrageous comments. Unfortunately, the County has no authority or control over a city mayor. We continue to showcase the county’s commitment on this issue. It’s too bad, the media doesn’t consider our actions news worthy.
Ilene
Stacy Ritter said:
My office is looking at if and how we can remove him from the Tourist Development Council. I will continue to speak out on this issue so that we can drown out the homophobic paranoid voices on the other side. We must continue to let everyone know that our community is tolerant, diverse and very welcoming. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I may ever be of assistance.
Stacy Ritter
And John Rodstrom responded:
Dear Jeff, Mark & Chloe - Thank you for your email. I find Mayor Naugle’s remarks out of step and very unfortunate. Although I do not agree with him, however, he has done nothing illegal. Any County resolution to censure him would not be legally binding.
Regards,
John E. Rodstrom, Jr.
To learn more and get involved, go to: and .
Jeff, thanks so much for sharing these emails! Kudos for stepping up.