Commissioners Voted Unanimously To Boot Anti-Gay Mayor

Naugle Flushed From Tourism Commission

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Jim Naugle will no longer represent sunny Fort Lauderdale for the Broward County Tourism Commission. The commissioners voted unanimously to boot the mayor for his recent – and very public – anti-gay crusades.

Of the decision, Commissioner Stacy Ritter remarked

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. He has continued to escalate his rhetoric, and we cannot be silent.

No surprise Naugle also had a statement. And, shocker, he’s as filled with imbecilic as the day he called for robo-toilets:

Sometimes the easiest thing to do when you don’t want to hear something is to shoot the messenger, but that doesn’t mean that there is not a problem out there that needs to be addressed.

Oh, they addressed the problem, Naugle. Now, if only you’d take a hint a head for the hills.

Read what Fight OUT Loud President Waymon Hudson had to say to the commission, after the jump…

Forget for a moment that we are talking about the mayor of Fort Lauderdale. If any member of the Tourism Council, or anyone else under the control of the County Commission, was saying the things that have been said (Gays unhappy, come to Broward and go home with AIDS) and damaging the county’s economy and reputation, they would immediately be removed from their post.

Take, for example, my own personal experience at the Fort Lauderdale Airport with my partner, where we were the targets of a threatening message played over the PA system. Mayor Eggelletion, you and the rest of the commission stood strong and said that this type of behavior is not allowed in Broward. You said you have ZERO TOLERANCE for hate and that all are welcomed here, gay or straight.

I ask that you show the same leadership here and send a clear message to the rest of the public that the County has zero tolerance and will no longer give someone a platform from which to spew such damaging hate.

It is not about removing the Mayor Jim Naugle from the tourism board. It is about removing Jim Naugle, the individual, from a position that damages the reputation and economy of Broward by spreading misinformation and attacking our number one industry, tourism.

By removing Naugle from this position, you send 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.

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