OPINION: The theatrics of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis can’t hide his hateful anti-LGBTQ actions
After signing the anti-LGBTQ “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis – or DeFascist as I like to call him – just took a hard left turn (or hard woke turn as the bigots like to call it.) DeSantis uncharacteristically ordered flags to be flown at half-staff on the sixth anniversary of the homophobic Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando.
@GovRonDeSantis orders flags at half-staff for Pulse Remembrance Day
Reporting by @KellyRHayeshttps://t.co/MRUg7pIqFD#FlaPol
— Florida Politics (@Fla_Pol) June 11, 2022
DeSantis’ war on the LGBTQ community has been both brazen and unapologetic. Just days ago the wanna-be-authoritarian announced the possibility of allowing the state’s Child Protective Services to investigate parents who take their children to drag shows. It was a proposal that reminded us that the proponents of “freedom” apparently only care about their own rights.
Publicly stating that the shooting on June 12, 2016 – when 49 were killed and dozens more injured – was a “hateful” act, Governor DeFascist seems to want us all to forget his own hateful acts over the past year, spiteful actions targeting teachers, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, those speaking out against rampant gun violence, and disability advocacy groups issuing mandates to protect their members.
DeSantis was responsible for silencing journalists who asked the hard questions demanding accountability from the Republican regime in Florida, all while welcoming members of the far-right, violent white supremacist group The Proud Boys into Florida’s Republican political fold.
DeSantis’ feeble and performative attempt at rehabbing his well-deserved fascist and bigoted image is just that – an attempt that came after he was called out by a reporter just recently for signing anti-LGBTQ legislation during Pride month:
Reporter asks Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) what message he’s sending to the LGBTQ community by signing an anti-trans bill during Pride month. pic.twitter.com/rZyLSSBxNK
— The Recount (@therecount) June 1, 2021
Maybe Governor DeSantis thinks we’ve forgotten. Maybe he thinks we’re too distracted by GOP squirrels to care.
Either way, those of us who know better, and are all too familiar with his efforts to play to the MAGA base, won’t let DeSantis’ gaslighting erase the damage done to our democracy that “Ron the Con’ thinks the American people are too stupid — or too ignorant — to remember. Neither will we forget his appointed attack dog, Christina Pushaw, equating members of the LGBTQ community to groomers, a term used to describe pedophiles.
Gov. Ron DeSantis' spokeswoman, Christina Pushaw, defamed opponents of the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill as "groomers." A responsible governor would have fired her. | Editorial: https://t.co/mh89IfHsfO pic.twitter.com/Ya3q30Z4aK
— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) March 16, 2022
No, Ron, we haven’t forgotten – or forgiven. You, that is. While yes, the victims of the Pulse shooting should be remembered and honored – your repeated actions denigrating the lives lived by those lost should forever be remembered and condemned.
Follow Ty Ross on Twitter @cooltxchick
This is an opinion column that solely represents the opinions of the author.