In a reversal of its the state’s extremely homophobic refusal to let Jacksonville’s Acosta Bridge light up in Pride lights, the Florida Department of Transportation now says the 1,645-foot span can indeed be lit up like a rainbow.
Thats according to the office of Taryn Fenske, spokeswoman for Gov. Ron DeSantis, which told the Florida Times-Union that, "The bottom line is, lights will be back up tonight.”
However, the status of Tampa Bay area bridges being allowed to be illuminated in rainbow lights for Pride month is still uncertain. According to the Herald-Tribune, last week the department also denied a request for Pride lights on Sarasota’s John Ringling Causeway Bridge, and rejected plans to light the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.
U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, who is also a gubernatorial candidate and represents a city that hosts one of the largest Pride events in the country, sent a letter to DeSantis on Monday, requesting that the Skyway Bridge be allowed to be lit up in Pride colors, as it has been in previous years.
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay reached out to DeSantis’ office, FDOT, and the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority for any insight and will update this post with any new information.
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