After an outcry from around the country, the city of Fort Lauderdale has removed the “Focus on Fort Lauderdale” newsletter containing Mayor Jim Naugle’s bigoted message against the LGBT community from the city’s website.

The city also decided that the mayor's column in Fort Lauderdale's bi-monthly publication will be permanently removed, giving Naugle one less platform from which to spew hate.  A special thanks to Commissioners Hutchinson and Moore for standing up for the respect and equality of all residents.

(Read: Mayor Uses Tax Dollars to Incite Violence)
 
The sudden removal of the Mayor’s comments shows the power and influence of a united LGBT community. I’d like to thank members of the Fight Out Loud organization that heeded our ‘call to action’ and took the time to write and express their outrage over the mayor’s divisive words.  Within twenty four hours of sending out the call to over 20,000 friends of Fight Out Loud, the offensive language was removed from the city website and one of the platforms that the Mayor uses to proclaim his homophobic rants has been taken away from him.   

Thank you to everyone who wrote, called, and stood up against the spread of anti-gay rhetoric at the expense of Fort Lauderdale tax-payers.  Your voice was heard!  Never again will our community sit by and let dangerous, violence inducing language go unanswered. 

We continue to call on Mayor Naugle and the entire City Commission to speak out and denounce the outbreak of violence against the LGBT community. The South Florida LGBT Community demands that its leaders step forward and diffuse the atmosphere of hate and intolerance that is brewing.

(Read: Another Community Mourns Another Teen Lost to Hate Crime Violence)  

We are standing up, being heard, and making a difference!

Waymom Hudson, the Homo Politico, is founder and President of Fight OUT Loud, a national non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the LGBT community to fight discrimination and hate.  He is a regular contributor to Gaysofla.com   Click Here for more information about Fight Out Loud.