By Megan Fitzgerald Dunn, PhD
I had the pleasure of sitting down with Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis to talk about recent LGTBQ issues and his commitment to the city’s robust diverse community.
Megan: Good morning. In June, the Human Rights Campaign declared a state of emergency for LGBTQ+ people in the U.S. and I saw in May that the HRC and Equality Florida issued a travel advisory to Florida. What would you want both tourists and your constituents to know about Fort Lauderdale in response to this?
Mayor Trantalis: Well, first, I would like HRC and Equality Florida to stick their nose out of our business. I think that the worst thing that they could have done is create a travel advisory in the state of Florida. We have a very safe, diverse environment here in our community. There is absolutely no reason why anyone should fear coming to Florida. They’re just trying to make headlines for themselves. It does not in any way reflect the temperament of what’s going on here in our communities, in particular in Fort Lauderdale. We have, as I said, a very diverse community and no community should feel like they are not welcome here. I went to an event yesterday and over 700 people showed up. It was an afternoon party at a local condominium building. Everyone was having a great time. Many people new to the city have moved here. They love it. And, all the political rhetoric is nothing more than just saber rattling and fear mongering on both sides. I feel that is not helpful. It is not constructive.
Megan: As you know, some new state laws and regulations are going to take effect in Florida. What do you see as your role as mayor navigating these?
Mayor Trantalis: Many of them have to do with education so, as Mayor, we are not involved with the education system, but to the extent that there is an attempt to try to prescribe conduct in public places; the city of Fort Lauderdale is not going to inhibit anyone from their freedom of speech or their freedom of assembly. We embrace the amount of activity and the kinds of activity that takes place in our city. As Mayor, I encourage people to come to Fort Lauderdale, be their authentic selves, and don’t think anyone is going to try to inhibit their actions or their conduct.
Megan: What do you see as some of the strengths of the Fort Lauderdale community that run counter to some of this rhetoric that we have been hearing?
Mayor Trantalis: The diversity of our community is our strength and no government at the federal level, state level, county level, or at any level, is going to inhibit anyone from expressing themselves—and, to be able to do so in a way that allows people to be their authentic selves. This alone is a barrier to the oppressive tactics that have been coming from Tallahassee. I spent the last 30 years participating in the Equal Rights Movement, trying to establish laws to erase barriers and to ensure equality for all groups. And, I do not expect to see any of those successes to be overturned. You know, the LGBTQ community is going to stand their ground and is not going to let anybody interfere with their way of living. I don’t think any group should feel inhibited whether they be part of the LGBTQ community, the African American community, the Latin community, or any community that comes here to enjoy the lifestyle that we’ve all come to appreciate.
Megan: Who inspired you to keep pushing ahead to help keep the South Florida community a safe and vibrant place?
Mayor Trantalis: Well, it’s very personal and I think it’s very rewarding to see the amount of interest that people have in Fort Lauderdale—the popularity that has once again resurged after a couple of decades of dormancy. I think that Fort Lauderdale is experiencing a renaissance of ideas, of people, and of investment. As Mayor, I look to find ways to shepherd these new developments, creating a foundation for the future and to help make Fort Lauderdale a long-term sustainable city until the end of the century, which you will be able to see. Not me. .
Megan: What are some of the meaningful changes in the community that you’ve seen in your tenure as mayor?
Mayor Trantalis: Clearly, we have seen a lot of growth in terms of development. New populations are moving into the city. Young people especially are finding Fort Lauderdale. Many of the kids that have gone away to school are coming back to their home because they see Fort Lauderdale as a great place to start a family or build a business. I think that in the last five years we have seen exponential growth in that area. We’re also seeing the benefits of what that growth can create—new culinary choices, diverse populations, and the amenities of life that critical masses of population help to foster. I think that Fort Lauderdale is certainly coming into its own. It has its own brand. We are no longer the spring break capital. We are the capital of excitement and of opportunity.
Megan: How can we get people involved in supporting and maintaining the quality of life that I know you are so committed to?
Mayor Trantalis: I encourage people to join advisory boards connected with the operation of the city government. They are all levels of interest, you know, anywhere between, planning and zoning, community appearance, parks and recreation, the things that comprise the fabric of life here in the city. Also, get involved with your local neighborhood civic association or condominium associations. That is where the grassroots government really begins to germinate and, I think, it grows from there. That is where I started and here I am.
Megan: I know that Pride month is a time of celebration, but I did read that the Port St. Lucie and St. Cloud communities canceled their celebrations out of fear of unintentionally breaking a new law that makes it a third degree felony to have a child present at “an adult live performance.” What do you make of this reaction?
Mayor Trantalis: Well, shame on them. There is no reason why they should have self-imposed this prohibition. There is no law today that stops these events from happening. There’s a law that says you should not engage in lewd and lascivious behavior. Well, that has always been the law so that is nothing new. So sometimes, I wonder whether these organizations decided to cancel their celebrations out of fear or because they just were disorganized and could not get their event to happen, notwithstanding any laws passed this year in Tallahassee.
Megan: I also read recently in the Washington Post that an increasing number of LGBTQ families are considering relocating out of Florida.
Mayor Trantalis: That is a narrative that the media chooses to follow. It is not happening at all. A thousand people a day are moving to Florida so, I don’t see that trend having any impact. There will be some high-profile events, like when Disney decided to postpone investment in the Lake Nona region. When things like this happen in a state where you see the forces of oppression and discrimination starting to happen, that is not the time to leave the state. That is the time to populate the state with fair thinking, fair minded equality thinking people who vote to change the trends. You know, I come from the state of Connecticut. Probably one of the most liberal states in the country, right? I could have stayed there and been perfectly happy, right? But, I came to Florida to help make change and I stayed in Florida as I saw the opportunities for change continued to exist. We started here in Broward and we tried to move throughout the state. You see a lot of areas in the state that are emerging from the days where there was discrimination and where there was segregation. And, we are starting to see that change. And, it only changes when the population changes and when people come here who think about how important it is to respect the lives and the rights of other people. That is the history of Florida. We are seeing that evolution. It is never a straight line—there’s progress and then there’s regression. But, I think if you look at, if you look at the history of Florida over the last a hundred years, we are moving in the right direction and trying to escape it or to dismiss it is really a cowardly way of reacting to it. We need to hold together and stick together and make that change happen.
Megan: What are your goals moving forward? What would you like to see changed or improved by Pride Month 2024?
Mayor Trantalis: The attitude within the LQBTQ community to make sure that we all feel comfortable with our quality of life and that we are strong enough to do what it takes to prevent anyone who is looking to interfere or change that.
Megan: And, lastly, is there anything I haven’t asked that you would like to share with me?
Mayor Trantalis: You know, just simply put, there will always be attempts by political opportunists to try to denigrate a group or two in order to advance their political careers. We have seen it throughout history, and whether you are gay, Jewish, or Black, there is always a minority that seems a ripe opportunity to denigrate in order to stand on them and trample upon them to gain some political advantage, only because of fear and jealousy and self-interest. But, in the end, those efforts fail. So, anyone who is looking to gain political advantage to try to denigrate the LGBTQ community is going to fail. It always does, and it will again. That’s why I think no one should feel disheartened or disappointed or despondent in what they hear, but rather it should give them strength and courage to continue to move forward and to feel good about themselves. I think the rallying call is there and I think we are going to respond in a very strong way.
Megan Fitzgerald Dunn, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts from Department of Writing and Communication at Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Fitzgerald serves as the faculty advisor for Lambda Pi Eta. Her research focuses on offensive language and media, journalism education, and media effects.
Dr. Fitzgerald holds a PhD in Mass Communications from Florida State University, an MA in Journalism from Syracuse University, and a BA in Communication from Stonehill College. Email: mf821@nova.edu. Curriculum vitae: works.bepress.com/megan-fitzgerald
