Nasty Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Jim Naugle is at it again

March 4, 2008

To: Commissioner Christine Teel, Commissioner Charlotte E. Rodstrom,

Commissioner Carlton B. Moore, Commissioner Cindi Hutchinson

Re: Jim Naugle Uses Tax Dollars to Incite Violence in South Florida

Honorable Commissioners of Ft. Lauderdale;

Mayor Jim Naugle of Fort Lauderdale has once again used his office to spread fear and hate about the gay community. In the latest city newsletter, paid for by the city and available on the city’s website, Naugle again used misinformation and bigotry to paint the LGBT community as predators and a danger.

In the official Mayor’s message , on the very first page of the newsletter, Naugle again makes the claim that gay men are making our parks and public places unsafe for children and that we need to be “curtailing these illegal activities in the future.” This echoes his continued attacks and claims that he wants to “stop an attempt by gays to take over Fort Lauderdale.” This newsletter, mailed to businesses and homes across the city, was sent out on February 16, 2008, only days before both the tragic shooting of Simmie Williams Jr and the savage gay-bashing on Las Olas Blvd. While we know that Mayor Naugle is not the direct cause of the violence in our community, we cannot deny the dangerous effects of his words any longer. He has continually used his office to promote an atmosphere of fear and intolerance towards the LGBT community. We cannot deny the dangerous effects of Mayor Naugle’s words any longer.

While we recognize that Simmie William's murder and other recent hate crimes are not the direct result of any single statement, we also understand that when leaders demonize the LGBT community their comments contribute to an atmosphere of hostility in which harassment and violence flourish. Simply stated, Broward County is less safe for LGBT citizens because of the Mayor's comments.

The LGBT community and citizens of Ft. Lauderdale are respectable, tax paying, voting citizens of this great city. They deserve the SAME LEVEL of respect, representation, protection and leadership as the rest of your community. Illegal activity is NOT limited to a specific group or minority. Having an ELECTED city leader use public funds to propagate hate, fear, and promote violence is in NOT ACCPETABLE.

UNITY COALITION/COALICION UNIDA, Florida's leading Latino/Hispanic gay civil-rights nonprofit initiative, offering leadership on issues that concern Latino/Hispanic LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and other minority groups, joins dozens of community groups and leaders in demanding immediate change and a stop to the propagation of hate and discrimination by the City of Ft. Lauderdale's Mayor.

Some of the groups that join Unity Coalition in this view are: Fight OUT Loud, Equality Florida, SAVE, Ambiente Magazine, Gay American Heroes Foundation, League Against AIDS, and many more.

Something must be done about the impact of the Mayor's behavior on the city of Fort Lauderdale. We respectfully suggest that an item be added to your next regular meeting agenda to discuss this particular use of public monies. City commissioners must not condone the use of public funds to denigrate the LGBT community by remaining silent. You must do something about Mayor Naugle and his campaign of hate and discrimination - NOW.


Respectfully,
Herb Sosa

Unity Coalition/Coalicion Unida

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UNITY COALITION/COALICION UNIDA is Florida's leading Latino/Hispanic gay civil-rights nonprofit initiative, offering leadership on issues that concern Latino/Hispanic LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) and other minority groups.

COALICION UNIDA, una niciativa sin fines de lucros y lider en la Florida en defender los derechos civiles de la comunidad latina/hispana LGBT (lesbianas, gay, bisexual, transgenero), ofreciendo liderazgo en asuntos concernientes a este y otros grupos minoritarios.


www.unitycoalition.org