Small Florida Town Defiantly Raises Pride Flag After Mayor Warns Against It
The small town of Surfside, Fla., held a flag-raising ceremony in honor of Pride Month and its LGBTQ+ community despite opposition from Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzinger.
The town decided not to raise the flag last year after Danzinger said it would open Pandora’s box of similar requests from religious groups, political advocates and self-proclaimed Satanists requesting their flags to be flown.
Despite receiving opposition from Danzinger, Surfside commissioners voted 3-2 earlier this year to designate June as Pride Month and to hold a ceremony to raise the Pride flag.
The Town of Surfside hoists an LGBTQ pride flag at a June 2 ceremony to honor Pride Month [WPLG] “Pride Month is all about acceptance and inclusion,” Surfside Town Manager Hector Gomez told WPLG. “This symbol of solidarity for the community demonstrates what a welcoming and diverse place Surfside really is.” “It’s amazing,” added one resident. “It’s a big deal after last year that we couldn’t raise the flag, and we are very proud to do it right now.” Danzinger did not attend the event but did release the following statement. “It’s important to note that we live in a community where over one-third of the population is Jewish, yet the Town has never sponsored an Israeli Day Parade or a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony,” he said. “Additionally, over two-thirds of our population is Hispanic, yet we have never had a Hispanic Day Parade.
