Letter from the Fort Lauderdale CVB disowning Naugle

uh,

What's wrong with "taking over" or having orgies in beach restrooms?????

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by: tim @ Fri Jul 27, 2007 at 22:24:36 PM CDT

Its not nice to be greedy

gotta share things,after all.

http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

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by: dyssonance @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 01:31:08 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

DUMP the mayor FIRST!

You'll get ZERO of my travel dollars as long as Naugle is smearing our community.

BTW. did you know your Governor Charlie Christ is a big self loathing KWEER?

just saying

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by: underbear1 @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:12:28 AM CDT

It's not worth the effort right now.

Nutcase Naugle is term-limited and has less than 20 months to go before he has to step down.  It would take that long to get a recall petition circulated and put on the ballot.  "This too shall pass."

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/sfl-editgsnaugle1nbjul26,0,1913623.story

In the mean time, there are plenty of glbt attractions in adjacent cities like Wilton Manors and Oakland Park (both of which have gay mayors). 

And yes, Underbear1, we all know about Charlie.

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by: Phil @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:28:27 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

We have to, dear...

Dear Ms. Nicki Grossman,

While I am sure that many in your community find your mayor's remarks and beliefs reprehenisble, until the majority of your local citizens speak up in opposition to those utterences I have to believe that the duly elected  official of your municipality  speaks for those who elected him.

In the meantime I and other queer people across the nation and around the world will be raising our voices in outrage.  We know that our safety and our futures depend on remaining vigilant against hatred in all its forms.  We WILL fight it there so that we don't have to fight it here.

 Yours truly,

Paul Barwick, San Francisco 

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by: Paul In SF @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 09:56:23 AM CDT

What a brilliant reply, Paul.

And yes, until the majority says, "Not here," it is there.  Ms. Grossman is concerned with dollars.  She wants queer money spent in her town, but those townspeople elected a bigot and that's telling more than they want known.

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by: Holly Capote @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 10:01:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just say NO to Florida,

  That is my honest feelings, and I live here. (Not for long though, moving in two weeks)  This state wants the LGBT dollars from tourists, period.  Run by Republicans for the last 8 years under Jeb Bush, nothing positive on a state wide basis has been done.  Florida is the one and only out of 50 states that doesn't have legal adoption for LGBT.  Last year, they spent thousands of dollars figuring out how to get a slice of the LGBT tourist dollars, when the answers is easy, become LGBT friendly.

  This state has made a track record, of destroying events in many places not only to the LGBT community, Bike Week in Daytona, Spring Break, Black College reunion week, banning nude sunbathing at Playlynda beach, the list can go on and on. All in the name of "Protecting the Children". 

  The only way to make positive changes is hit Florida in the wallet.

If I make sense? it was quite by accident.

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by: HappyCat @ Sat Jul 28, 2007 at 10:41:07 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yep, Happy -

...and that is why my partner and I will not so much set foot in the place.

 

Or use Florida businesses.

 

For example, we recently bought some art glass vases that turned out to be shipped from a Florida distributor.

 

We sent them back and bought a pricier set from a Canadian firm . . .  because at least the Canadian firm is run by people who believe we are equal human beings.

 

Screw Florida!

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by: 'Bean @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 09:00:38 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Florida

The commenters, particularly from Florida, have a good point. I have lived here since 1997.  I was so unhappy about how un-gay-friendly Florida was that I wanted to leave late last year and almost did.  Florida still has a long way to go, but here, in comparison to some other places, southeastern Florida is wonderful (in respect to having an open population with influence).  The three southeastern counties Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach are okay, the rest of the state is flyover country...avoid.  Broward, and particularly Wilton Manors, has a very open and large GLBT population.  I came from Saint Louis, Missouri and I prefer here to there.  I almost moved to Portland, Maine last year.  While Maine is lovely and tends to be more liberal than Florida, I did not see the GLBT population there, that I see here.  Broward is a dichotomy of competing themes and ideologies.  You have a large, open GLBT population, while at the same time having a seat of religious hate calling Fort Lauderdale home as well (Coral Ridge Ministries). 

My point is that I hope you'll come here and have a good time and overlook the idiocy that surrounds us when you come, and enjoy the openness instead.

Give me a call when you come ;-)

Daniel

Newton, Massachusetts

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by: danielftl @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 11:50:18 AM CDT

Key West and South Beach like New Orleans should secede

There are only a few CIVILIZED areas below the Mason Dixie line worth saving for Gays/Lesbians.

Atlanta would probably also qualify, the rest just leave to the hets.

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by: underbear1 @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 12:02:58 PM CDT

Fort Lauderdale...

  Boycott - hurts everyone but the Mayor. He's just a figure head who needs to be muzzled, and we are working very hard on that.

 Tourism - it is our industry here in South Florida. And we are going to promote the hell out of the place as what it really is...a welcoming and very gay and friendly place to be.

We deserve what we got?

The population of Fort Lauderdale has steadily changed over the past 5 years, grown and matured.
WE ARE TAKING CHARGE OF THE PRESENT & WORKING ON THE FUTURE.

UNITE Fort Lauderdale

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by: jeffbblack @ Sun Jul 29, 2007 at 22:39:55 PM CDT

gads.

come or not, as you please. I can think of worse places. Yes, we are a melting pot. Yes the mayor is an asshole. This bullshit has actually been good for the community. Think on this; Pride in Palm Beach county brings in 10,000. Pride in Lauderdale and the Stonewall Pride event bring in tons more than that. St Pete Pride brings in like 80,000. ?  Something crazy like that. So tell me again how unfriendly Florida is. Florida will be the second state to kick an anti civil marriage amendment to the curb. So, tell me about it.. lol

Funny thing, some of our clan thinks a boycott is a good thing. Think I'll continue working on other buisness.... www.eqfl.org

http://EQFL.org

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by: banshiii @ Mon Jul 30, 2007 at 09:24:18 AM CDT