Stacy Ritter knew she had to do something big to separate Fort Lauderdale from Ron DeSantis.

Florida’s governor had spent more than a year attacking LGBTQ+ rights, and the Broward County seat was struggling. In 2023 alone, 18 conferences withdrew

theirs

bookings

from

the province, repelled by America’s Don’t Say Gay law and DeSantis outings against gay and transgender people and reproductive rights, among other things.

So

Rittershe

came to California and

e. E

listed 45,000 flowers; a raft of Brussels sprouts; the nephew of the late Harvey Milk, one of the nation’s first openly gay elected officials; and what amounts to a two-hour television commercial

also known as the 135th annual

Rose parade

that is

watched by millions

in this country alone

.

also known as the 135th annual

Rose parade

.

Thanks to Ritter, president and chief executive of Visit Lauderdale, her county now has the first Rose Parade float, complete with rainbow umbrellas and a

new

She hopes the slogan will counter DeSantis’ march to the right: Everyone under the sun.

We hope the way we designed the float will show how diverse and inclusive this destination is, Ritter said

from Fort Lauderale

. It’s a place that may be different from your perception of Florida and what the headlines say Florida is. We are not.

Not everyone thinks it will move the needle. Academics like Karen Tongson, chair of gender and sexuality studies at USC, say action without meaningful transformation and resistance will not advance progress.

And

While Ritter understands such perspectives, she notes that local businesses can and will take economic hits

when people stay away.

Tourism is ours

No. 1 number one

industry here, Ritter said. If no visitors come, people cannot pay their bills.

DeSantis’ office did not respond to requests for comment.

In November, DeSantis boasted that the state of Florida continued to break overall annual attendance records with 105.2 million visitors so far in 2023.

Ritter, a longtime admirer of the Tournament of Roses, was inspired to participate after seeing other floats in the 2023 Rose Parade.

In total,

The Visit Lauderdale team spent approximately $790,000, including registration and

materials for the float itself

to bring it

theirs

creation to life.

It’s an effort

The Ritter team wholeheartedly supports this, and it does

the Broward County community

wholeheartedly supports

.

We had to make sure we separated ourselves from what was being said about us, Ritter said, and from what was being done to us.

The float features a yacht, a lifeguard tower with a pride flag and images of wildlife

s design

includes interchanges to the province’s beachside tourist attractions. Are

So

topped by a replica of the Guitar Hotel at Seminole Hard Rock

Hotel & Casino

in hollywood,

Fla

.

Additionally, Ritter said, the float will be there

prominently

Community leaders like Miss Florida Seminole Thomlynn Billie, who described Visit Lauderdale’s message as powerful.

I hope 2024 is the era of inclusivity and togetherness, Billie, who comes from the Seminole Tribes Panther Clan,

wrote said

to email. And that people can live together peacefully without the threat of harmful actions and words that could be used against them because of their background, skin color and/or culture and religion.

Billie, 23, added: I know that when I see indigenous people making themselves known to the world, and people showing interest in their talents and culture, it puts a smile on my face and that I live in a time where we can proudly show our indigenous culture that our ancestors fought so fiercely for.

Stuart Milk

the cousin of LGBTQ civil rights leader Harvey Milk,

will also be one of six people riding the float on New Year’s Day.

milk,

A resident of Broward County for 25 years,

the executive chairman and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation

said the float is a message of inclusivity amid DeSanti’s message of hate.

South Florida really is one of those beacons of light that give Harvey Milk-style hope, not just to the people here in Florida, but to the people who visit, he said.

the executive chairman and co-founder of the Harvey Milk Foundation.

Given the national reach of the Rose Parades,

said Antonius Ocampo

the Visit Lauderdale float will send a message across the country that it’s okay to be who you are and celebrate who you are,

said Anthony Ocampo, professor of sociology at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona

. But it is also a step in the right direction. It is a symbol of support, and as important as symbols of support are, it is also necessary to have support policies because policies affect people massively,” he added.

Ocampo, who visits Ft. Lauderdale

earlier

this year and felt welcome

in the area

expressed hope that upon seeing the positive reception of the Visit Lauderdale float, Florida

ian

communities will feel empowered to be more outspoken and supportive of queer and trans people.

It’s a time when they really need to hear that support out loud, Ocampo said.

Tongson repeated

that a similar position

, which praises Visit Lauderdale’s efforts to visibly counter the state government. However, more needs to be done, she says.

“I have no doubt that it is meant as a sign of resilience, that it is meant as a gesture of defiance,” Tongson said. I just think that too often as a culture we tend to stop with this gesture while gay rights and education regarding LGBTQ issues continue

S

to be destroyed and attacked.

For Floridians, Visit Lauderdales epitomizes the Broward County they know and love.

It is historic, timely and a very powerful statement about the diversity and inclusive work of the area, says Gina Duncan of Equality Florida. The Fort Lauderdale area in particular is a confirming example, and this is certainly reflected in Visit Lauderdale’s participation in the Rose Parade.

Duncan said it’s only a matter of time before Conservative bills

will be in the state

overturned on appeal because they are excessively discriminatory.

Opposition in Florida to such legislation is palpable, she said.

We believe that resistance in Florida is strong, Duncan added, and it is actually based on the business and business community opposing these bills. We’re seeing major metropolitan areas like Fort Lauderdale, like the central Florida region, embracing diversity, equity and inclusion.

As for Ritter, the longtime Broward County resident is optimistic about the floats’ reception.

even if there are risks when trying something new for the first time.

“I’m a big believer in trying,” she said. Not everything we do will be a huge success, but if you don’t try, you’ll never know. I think this is one of those things that will be a huge success and the people who live there [in Broward County] which we will be proud of for a long time to come.