After abrupt switch to blue lights, rainbow Pride Month display on Florida bridge is back on

For some context, the Acosta Bridge has recently been lit up in honor of holidays like Memorial Day and has in the past been changed to reflect the Fourth of July. It’s also been lit up to celebrate nonfederal holidays, like breast cancer awareness, lupus awareness, and the Jacksonville Jaguars football team. According to Queerty, the transportation department can, in general, decline color schemes if it deems them not to be in the best interest of the public or offensive. 

In speaking to local outlet WJAX-TV, Stephen Gaskill, president of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, described the situation as “kind of appalling” as it’s “gone from something that’s a celebration to now a controversy.” Gaskill stressed that LGBTQ people are still “fighting for equality in Florida and even across the country.”

In a statement to The Hill, the FDOT explained that while the rainbow schematic “was not submitted/approved” in accordance with the bridge lighting policy, the department went ahead and authorized its use “as it is obviously a matter of broad community interest.” In short: The rainbow lights are on—at least on that one bridge.

Here’s a tweet from the JTA showing the original Pride display.

That this should happen in Florida feels especially like a sticking point, especially when juxtaposed with the state’s Republican governor’s recent actions. As covered by Daily Kos, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently vetoed $150,000 in funds that would have gone toward providing mental health support for survivors of the Pulse nightclub massacre, as well as funds that would have provided housing for homeless youth in the state. DeSantis also recently signed an anti-trans sports bill into law, barring trans girls from participating in girls’ sports teams. 

This is not the only example of a rainbow display causing issues in Florida, however. Just last week, for example, the FDOT refused a request from the city of Sarasota to illuminate the John Ringling Causeway Bridge with rainbow lights. The FDOT also declined a request to use rainbow lights on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. As reported by local outlet News4Jax, the Pride Month color scheme was the first time the FDOT informed the JTA that the bridge colors were not in compliance.

That said, Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for DeSantis, tweeted that the governor’s office had no involvement in the decision to pull the original rainbow lights display.

In speaking to NBC, Fenske said it was “absurd” to think the governor had been involved in the decision, adding, “The (Acosta) bridge lights will be back up for the remainder of the week.” In speaking to The Washington Post, Beth Frady, a spokesperson for the FDOT, explained that the call to turn the rainbow display off was made at the local level. 

Democratic Rep. Carlos G. Smithtweeted about the situation, questioning whether LGBTQ Floridians should give DeSantis the “benefit of the doubt” or go by his actions.

When it comes to all elected officials—including, certainly, Republicans—we know by now that actions speak far louder than words.