Anthony Niedwiecki and Waymon Hudson got an earful after arriving to Fort Lauderdale last week. While waiting for their luggage, the couple of six of years heard what sounded like a Biblical condemnation of homosexuality. Shocked and a bit confused, they boys thought they had imagined it. Until the message played again. South Florida’s NBC6 reports:
A gay couple is asking for an investigation after they claim they heard threatening comments announced over the intercom system at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.
…
“My partner said, ‘Did you hear that?’ And I said, ‘I kind of think I did,'” said Anthony Niedwiecki. “Then about two minutes later we heard it again. ‘A man who lies with a man as if he were lying with a woman shall be subject to death.'”“It was almost so threatening that I was frightened,” said Waymon Hudson, Niedwiecki’s partner.
Certainly not the kind of talk one would expect from a public airport.
Niedwiecki tells Towleroad:
…We called the airport and after five call transfers (including the sheriff’s department), we got an airport manager. He seemed disinterested and more interested in the exact bible verse than taking care of the problem. He simply said ‘sorry for the inconvenience.’ I sent an email to United/Ted (our airline) because I could not get anyone on the phone. I was told by some person at the airport (during my ‘phone shuffle’ yesterday afternoon) that only airline employees have access to the intercom.
..As of today, I have not heard back from the airport or United. NBC6 news, our local channel, aired a story about this yesterday and today. The airport spokesperson said that anyone could have made the comments, which should give us all pause in a time of terrorism (anyone can use the PA system of an airport?).
Indeed. The fact that airport security can’t regulate who’s roaming about the airport’s back corridors is far scarier than some nutter spouting Biblical verse.
mit186
There needs to be an investigation into this.
Queerty Editors: Can you please write an update that includes information on who we can call? The airport/airline/city needs some pressure from the gay community.
Dawster
oh great… i’m flying out of Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood Airport to New York tomorrow….
it was probably someone at the gate using the damn P.A. system. i’ll look for them tomorrow…. (lol).
cjc
The Community Outreach Office at the airport is at 954-359-6977.
The Public Information Office is at 954-359-6116. Fax is (954) 359-0027. The PIO is Greg Meyer and his e-mail is [email protected].
The airport is accountable to the Broward County Board of County Commissioners. A handy comment form is available at http://www.broward.org/comments.htm.
A list of contact information for the mayor and all of the county commissioners is available at http://www.broward.org/publicinfo/broward_govt.htm, but here’s the list:
2006-2007 Mayor
District 9 Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion, Jr. (D)
Phone: 954-357-7009
FAX: 954-357-5707
E-mail
District 9 Satellite Office:
Sadkin Center
1176 N.W. 42nd Way, Second Floor
Lauderhill, FL 33313
954-327-3877
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
2006-2007 Vice Mayor
District 5 Commissioner Lois Wexler (D)
Phone: 954-357-7005
FAX: 954-357-7044
E-mail
District 5 Satellite Office:
9090 S.W. 50th Place
Cooper City, FL 33328
Phone: 954-680-0008
By appointment
District 1 Commissioner Ilene Lieberman (D)
Phone: 954-357-7001
FAX: 954-357-7295
E-mail
District 1 Satellite Office:
Margate City Hall
5790 Margate Blvd., 2nd Floor
Margate, FL 33063
Phone: 954-935-5387
By appointment
District 2 Commissioner Kristin Jacobs (D)
Phone: 954-357-7002
FAX: 954-523-3302
E-mail
District 3 Commissioner Stacy Ritter (D)
Phone: 954-357-7003
FAX: 954-357-7319
E-mail
District 3 Satellite Office:
Coral Springs, FL 33065
By appointment
District 4 Commissioner Ken Keechl (D)
Phone: 954-357-7004
FAX: 954-357-7798
E-mail
District 4 Satellite Office:
Oakland Park City Hall
3650 N.E. 12th Ave.
Oakland Park, FL 33334
Phone: 954-537-2890
FAX: 954-537-2892
Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
District 6 Commissioner Sue Gunzburger (D)
Phone: 954-357-7006
FAX: 954-357-7129
E-mail
District 6 Satellite Offices:
3550 Hollywood Blvd., Room 150
Hollywood, FL 33021
By appointment
Pembroke Pines City Hall
10100 Pines Blvd.,
Building B, Third Floor
Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
District 7 Commissioner John E. Rodstrom, Jr. (D)
Phone:954-357-7007
FAX: 954-357-8088
E-mail
District 8 Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin (D)
Phone: 954-357-7008
FAX: 954-357-5704
E-mail
District 8 Satellite Office:
Pembroke Pines City Hall
10100 Pines Blvd., Bldg. B,
Second Floor
Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
mike
what’s sad is that broward county ( ft laudedale) has the largest gay per cappa in USA ( i believe ) as well #1 gay tourist destination because of the fab beaches & gay night life … go figure
Nancy Davis
I am applaud over this! No one should be put through this, gay or straight. What people do with their lives are private. Sounds like some republican with a hateful heart!
dizzyspins
I applaud Nancy Davis’ sentiment, but I think she inadvertantly mispelled “appalled.” Yes, I am a grammar Nazi.
dh
Oh dizzyspins – tell me you were trying to be ironic by misspelling “mispelled” in your blurb on grammar. Now THAT is classic!
cheezus h. rice
Ha, dizzyspins’ crime is even worse, since grammar and spelling are not the same thing.