DeSantis Declares Only Red, White, and Blue Lights on Florida Bridges During “Freedom Summer”

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared that only red, white, and blue light displays can illuminate bridges in Florida during “Freedom Summer,” which runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day. During summer months, some prominent bridges in Florida had historically featured light displays featuring rainbow lights in June and colors signifying different national awareness days.

Official Announcement

Announcing on social media, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue claimed that Florida is the “Freest state in the nation.” Perdue introduced the new directive from Governor DeSantis, sharing that the bridge lighting will align with the state’s “Freedom Summer” initiative.

Impact on Pride Month

Florida’s new instruction limiting bridge display colors to red, white, and blue supersedes the practice of lighting the bridges with rainbow colors in June. For this reason, LGBTQ+ critics criticize the initiative as targeting their movement, just as they claim DeSantis has done on several other occasions as Florida’s Governor.

Reaction from LGBTQ+ Advocates

Equality Florida’s senior policy advisor, Carlos Guillermo Smith, opposes the Freedom Summer initiative, arguing that it undermines the LGBTQ+ community’s efforts to celebrate diversity and inclusion. Despite the Governor’s mandate, Smith insists that the LGBTQ+ community will continue to celebrate Pride Month in all the other ways the community celebrates.

Local Traditions Disrupted

One of the most iconic bridges in Florida, Sarasota’s Ringling Causeway Bridge, often displays colorful arrays of lights for national awareness days and months, including National Gun Awareness Month and Women’s Equality Day, and rainbow light displays for June. The new mandate will impact Sarasota travelers’ experience as the lights during the summer will be exclusively red, white, and blue.

Sarasota’s Usual Practices

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) controls most of the state’s larger bridges and, therefore, has full control over the lighting schemes promoted on them. In the past, City of Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert would recommend to FDOT a schedule of notable events along with the light colors to feature that event, which FDOT typically implemented.

Regrets Over Lost Community Expression

Alpert expressed disappointment that the local city traditions would no longer be represented in the bridge lighting schemes, as the state has ultimate control over the lighting.

Lack of Response from Officials

Although Perdue announced the initiative on social media, FDOT and DeSantis’s office have not engaged the media on the decision to implement Freedom Summer’s limited color scheme. The lack of media comment suggests to some that the leadership does not want to delve into the motivations and implications behind the new order. Many see the change as directly related to Pride Month displays, but that is not how Florida’s leadership communicated the order, and they are not speaking out on the controversy.

Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday

Prior to this newest proposal, Florida’s Freedom Summer included initiatives such as the “Freedom Month Sales Tax Holiday.” This tax holiday applied to state parks’ outdoor recreation equipment and entrance fees.

Opposition from Manatee County

One of the first voices raised in the controversy of bridge lighting color schemes came from Manatee County Commissioner Mike Rahn. Rahn opposed a rainbow lighting display on the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge. This controversy likely paved the way for the new state Freedom Summer initiative.

Commissioner’s Statement

Though likely originating with his opposition to the rainbow color display in his jurisdiction, Rahn stated that DeSantis and Perdue were responsible for the decision, not him, as FDOT operates the state bridge infrastructure.

Bridge Lighting Systems

Few of Florida’s 12,881 bridges have lighting systems that can be used for artistic lighting displays. However, the bridges with sophisticated light display capacity are used to highlight notable and celebratory events. In Jacksonville, Florida, the Acosta Bridge is used to celebrate local sports teams and national events.

Community Disappointment

In Jacksonville and Sarasota, light displays on the bridges are considered public art and a source of community pride. However, these communities may feel limited by their inability to express support for different local and national events and remembrances.

Jacksonville’s Dynamic Displays

For example, the Acosta Bridge in Jacksonville festively displays colorful light arrangements for Pride Month and Juneteenth, as well as to celebrate the local minor league baseball team.

Concerns About Timing

Kimberly Allen, the CEO of 904Ward, an organization focusing on racial healing and equality, expressed misgivings about the mandate’s intent. She suggested that the timing and restrictions may undermine efforts to recognize and celebrate Pride Month and other diversity events publicly.