Orlando Police Investigate 'Kill The Gays' Sign, Politicians Condemn Incident

A traffic sign in Orlando, FL flashed in bright orange letters "KILL ALL GAYS" early on Wednesday morning, EDGE reported yesterday.

"The variable message board had been welcoming visitors to Lake Nona for an upcoming 5K race, said Ashley Papagni, a spokesperson for the city of Orlando. But instead it was tampered with, sparking calls to law enforcement officials, who responded shortly before 4 a.m.," reported the Washington Post on Friday.

The Orlando Police Department is investigating the incident, which prompted the city's mayor, Buddy Dyer (D), to blast the "disgusting display" and declare Wednesday that "hate has no place in Orlando."

"To Orlando's LGBTQ+ residents and visitors: you are respected and valued here. And we won't be deterred in our efforts to ensure that our city is inclusive for all," Dyer tweeted.

The WP noted that "Wednesday commemorated the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia around the world. But in the city where a gunman killed 49 people inside a popular gay bar in 2016, the day began with the hateful message.

"Hours later, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed into law four bills targeting transgender rights. The bill package – dubbed 'Let Kids Be Kids' – imposes varying degrees of restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors and adults; expands the ban on gender identity and sexual orientation instruction in classrooms; makes it a crime to admit minors to drag performances; and bans trans people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity in schools, prisons or public buildings."

"Florida is proud to lead the way in standing up for our children," DeSantis said in a news release. "As the world goes mad, Florida represents a refuge of sanity and a citadel of normalcy."

A spokesperson for DeSantis didn't respond to a request for comment from The Post.

State Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (D), whose district includes parts of Orlando, told The Washington Post that Wednesday's incident was a reminder that attacks and rhetoric against the LGBTQ+ community "are only getting worse, and our governor is allowing this pattern to continue."

"Nothing happens in a vacuum," Eskamani said. "The fact that someone or some group would go as far as to hack a construction sign to send a message to 'kill all gays' – these are individuals who are affirmed and empowered by the policies around them, and by the elected officials around them who echo that same sentiment, whether they say it as bluntly or not."

Others commented on Twitter:

Former lawmaker and candidate for Florida senate Carlos Guillermo Smith posted:

"This is NOT the place I call home. It's not Orlando, it's not Florida. It's a dystopian upside down world contrived out of an era of unchecked political extremism and overt bigotry. I refuse to be a bystander. We will not let hate win."