FDOT nixes Pride, Juneteenth bridge displays

• The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) plans to instead illuminate all Florida bridges in red, white and blue from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

Between the lines: FDOT lights up the Skyway upon approval from the counties it touches: Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas. It did so for Israel in October and Ukraine before that.

• Manatee County Commission Chairman Mike Rahn emailed FDOT in February to express his disapproval of lighting for Pride Month and Gun Violence Awareness, according to the Times.

Friction point: Jim Nixon, St. Pete's LGBTQ+ liaison, appealed Rahn's objection to FDOT. He pointed out that themed displays require authorization from the county commission, not just one member.

• FDOT ignored Nixon's requests, per the Times. Last week, it announced the months-long red, white and blue display to celebrate the sales tax holiday bill Gov. Ron DeSantis signed.

The decision impacts the following themed displays:

• Mental Health Awareness (May 28-31)
• Juneteenth (June 19)
• Ovarian Cancer Awareness (Sept. 1-7)
• Sickle Cell Awareness Day (June 18)
• World Fragile X Day for Autism (July 22)
• Pride (June 20-28)