News
2007-08-30
Naugle booted
from tourism board
Officials in
Broward County, Fla., voted unanimously Tuesday to remove
Fort Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle from the board that markets
their r
Officials in
Broward County, Fla., voted unanimously Tuesday to remove
Fort Lauderdale mayor Jim Naugle from the board that markets
their region to tourists because of his antigay
remarks, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel
reported.
"I had hoped that
this would die on its own, but Mayor Naugle continues
to push his own agenda, and that is having an increasing
impact on our community," Broward County Commissioner
Stacy Ritter, who proposed removing him, told the
newspaper. "He has continued to escalate his rhetoric,
and we cannot be silent."
Naugle's antigay
pronouncements, starting with June remarks that gays are
"unhappy" and, contrary to police statements, habitually
have sex in the city's public toilets, have been
reported across the country and seemingly deterred
visitors to the generally gay-friendly city.
A $250,000
convention has been shelved, and a group that plans
African-American family reunions has questioned Fort
Lauderdale's acceptance of diversity, tourism
officials told the paper. (The Democratic mayor has
also made remarks that angered black people.)
Normally, LGBTs make up nearly 10% of Fort Lauderdale's
visitors, spending an estimated $1 billion annually
there.
Members pleaded
with him August 7 to cease his rhetoric before voting to
remove him from the Greater Fort Lauderdale Tourism
Development Council, but he did the opposite, going on
radio and TV to expound to a larger audience.
"Hate is
something that is simply unacceptable and now has become
costly to the county as well," commissioner Diana
Wasserman-Rubin told the Sun-Sentinel.
"By removing
Naugle from this position, the commission sends a clear
message that Broward County does not allow this type of
divisive discourse and truly welcomes all. It is the
first, strong step in repairing the extensive damage
Naugle has done," Waymon Hudson of the LGBT rights
group Fight Out Loud said Wednesday in a written statement.
Naugle's term on
the tourism board was to expire next year, as does his
term as mayor. (Barbara Wilcox, The Advocate)
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