Pride Lights are no longer permitted on Florida bridges, and most other colors are also allowed

Last year there was a storm of protests in an orange red for gun safety when the state decorates the bridge with rainbow lights for Pride Moon. Instead, Florida’s Department of Transport, which manages the state’s bridge, ruled it as a “Summer of Freedom,” sought only red, white and blue lights from anniversary until July 4th, sweeping out other memorial plans.

Hopefully the same this year.

As of February 1, FDOT “was quietly passing the rules declaring the color and sequence of lighting as the default scheme of red, white and blue. Lighting is “limited to government holiday recognition, commemoration or promotion.”

That means there will be just nine holidays starting with New Year’s Day, followed by Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Anniversary, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

“The alternative lighting combinations will be determined by the department,” the FDOT policy states.

The city of Sarasota asked the state to approve the eye-catching aqua blue colour scheme as the default colour for the Ringling Bridge, when it was not illuminated with red, white and blue due to the state’s observed holidays. It was approved and these colors were illuminated earlier this month.

But they cannot overturn the new policy themselves.

“The City of Sarasota does not have jurisdiction over Ringling Bridge Lighting, so the City Commission cannot consider whether to accept individual lighting requests,” the city’s statement said.

From 2020 to 2023, Skyway Bridge had a lively rainbow light display for a week in June to honor Pride Month. However, Manatee County Commissioner, who expressed his disapproval of the Light Request, was shown in honor of pride and gun violence in 2024, celebrating the plan.

County Commissioner Mike Lahn said at the time that requests from various groups “have become somewhat out of control,” adding, “as a county commission, we shouldn’t fall with us. We should fall on FDOT.”

Saint Pete Pride President Byron Green Carish said he was disappointed but not surprised.

“Florida is amazing in many ways that demand that it’s not inclusive when we need to welcome more people to enrich our economy.”

He said some may not understand that lifts to spirits like Skyway Bridge are illuminated by a rainbow of light.

“It reminds me that you’re not alone,” he said.

In an advantage, Green Carish said that it has not been turned down by a company, building or organization in St. Petersburg because it takes pride in its front or windows in the coming weeks. He backed himself up after news broke that Moffit Cancer Center in Tampa had decided not to display pride or June flags due to concerns that could lose its federal research grant.

He said St. Pete Pride still supports the strong support of sponsors such as Hard Rock Café and Raymond James and many small businesses in the area.

“There’s hope there,” Green Carish said. “Even if the bridge isn’t bright, there are people who are actively engaged and fighting.”