Miami Beach LGBTQ+ Funding Saved — For Now
I attended the Miami Beach Commission budget meeting this past Wednesday. They unanimously approved a budget amendment to restore funding to Miami Beach Pride, the Miami-Dade LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce, Pridelines, and the Miami Beach Police Dept. LGBTQ outreach—all of which had been removed due to Ron DeSantis’ hate-fueled, anti-diversity law, the rotten SB 1134. Commissioner Fernandez introduced the amendment, with additions from Commissioner Bhatt. All 7 members voted yea.
In the ensuing Sutnick hour, 25+ people spoke, all in favor of restoring the funds. The major sentiments were thanks and gratitude, with many adding personal stories: a man who spoke of the belonging he felt at his first Pride event and his hope that the next kid would find the same at their first Pride; a mom thankful that her kids—straight or gay, conservative or liberal—grow up in a community that values and practices diversity and inclusion; and a young African-American South Florida native who felt so strongly that he drove down from North Florida because he wanted to be present for the vote.
One speaker who stood out to me was a young woman named Isabella. She issued a warning: though funding was saved this year, the rotten law remains in place, and she saw peril in the possibility that the Miami Beach Commission may not act this way next year or the year after that. She urged the Commissioners to go beyond, to do more, and to use their voices to speak out forcefully against the rotten law.
What the rest of us can do starts with our vote. Vote this year and every year. Talk to people—family, friends, neighbors—about issues that are important to you. See the excellent Democratic slate put together by the Miami Beach Democratic Club, and consider volunteering on Nov. 3 —the final day of voting (AKA “Election Day”). The rotten law—pushed by DeSantis—was supported by Miami Beach’s current representation in Tallahassee: GOP Sen. Garcia and GOP Rep. Basabe. Let’s work to eliminate them from our midst.
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