Exclusive: National coalition of gay leaders condemn Naugle

This letter is being sent today to the Fort Lauderdale and Broward County commissions:

August 2, 2007

Hon. Carlton B. Moore, Vice Mayor / Commissioner
Hon. Cindi Hutchinson, Commissioner
Hon. Charlotte E. Rodstrom, Commissioner
Hon. Christine Teel, Commissioner
City Commission of Fort Lauderdale
City Hall
100 North Andrews Avenue
Fort Lauderdale, FL   33301

Dear Members of the Fort Lauderdale City Commission:

We are writing to support UNITE Ft. Lauderdale’s request that you promptly pass a resolution condemning Mayor Naugle’s insulting, hurtful and untrue comments and reaffirming Ft. Lauderdale’s welcome of and support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people.

While we know that some of you have made individual statements rejecting the Mayor’s comments and said that he does not speak for you, the reality is that because the Mayor made his defamatory comments in his official capacity, it is up to you to officially and formally respond on behalf of the people of Ft. Lauderdale. Otherwise, your collective silence may be taken by others to mean that his comments actually do reflect the views of your city, not just the Mayor’s own personal and deplorable prejudices.

This is more than a local issue for two reasons. First, because the Mayor’s comments have received such widespread attention coast-to-coast, they defamed all LGBT people. Second, because the Mayor questioned whether the Greater Ft. Lauderdale Convention and Visitors Bureau should be seeking the business of LGBT tourists, our national community needs to know that you continue to welcome us.

Thank you for your consideration and we look forward you moving on this resolution promptly. 

Sincerely,

Selisse Berry, Executive Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
Jeremy Bishop, Executive Director, Pride At Work, AFL-CIO
Jennifer Chrisler, Executive Director, Family Pride
Jimmy Creech, Executive Director, Faith In America, Inc.
Andrea Densham, Interim Executive Director, Mautner Project, The National Lesbian Health Organization
Matt Foreman, Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
Neil Giuliano, President, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, former Mayor of Tempe, AZ
Kate Kendell, Executive Director, National Center for Lesbian Rights
Clarence Patton, Acting Executive Director, National Association of Anti-Violence Programs
H. Alexander Robinson, Chief Executive Officer, National Black Justice Coalition
Patrick Sammon, President, Log Cabin Republicans
Joe Solmonese, President, Human Rights Campaign
Terry Stone, Executive Director, National Association of LGBT Community Centers
Lee Swislow, Executive Director, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders
Rachel B. Tiven, Executive Director, Immigration Equality
Jo Wyrick, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats

CC: Jim Naugle, Mayor of Ft. Lauderdale
Waymon Hudson, Spokesperson, UNITE Ft. Lauderdale

Download the Aug. 2 letter to the Ft. Lauderdale City Commission

Download the Aug. 2 letter to the Broward County Commission