MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — This summer, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge will not recognize a handful of awareness events, including Pride.
That's because the Florida Department of Transportation has announced the bridge will be lit in red, white and blue from Memorial Day, on May 27, to Labor Day, on Sept. 2.
While the move doesn't specifically state that the Skyway will not recognize Pride Month and the other national awareness days, the Tampa Bay Times reported the decision came about after Manatee County Commission Chair Mike Rahn said he would approve some of the days, but specifically would not approve light displays honoring Pride and Gun Violence Awareness Day.
10 Tampa Bay has reached out to Manatee County for a copy of the email confirming Rahn's opposition.
Because the bridge touches Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, FDOT's policy requires unanimous approval from all three for each light display.
When asked about the move, Rahn said the decision came down from the governor's office.
"Gov. DeSantis and FDOT Secretary Purdue have made the decision to light the bridge Red, White, and Blue from Memorial Day to Labor Day," Rahn shared via email to the 10 Tampa Bay newsroom. "As Chairman of the Board of Manatee County Commission, I do not have the authority to override the Governor of the State Florida."
Rahn said he wants the lighting display decisions to go to the Florida Department of Transportation moving forward, and not be a responsibility of the county commission.
"However, in my opinion, the lighting of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a FDOT matter and should not be left with to the individual counties," Rahna said.
Rahn said he feels the lighting of the bridge is becoming a politicized matter.
With the decision to light the bridge in red, white, and blue from Memorial Day to Labor Day, the following themed displays will be impacted:
- Mental Health Awareness (May 28-31)
- National Gun Violence Awareness Day (June 7)
- Sickle Cell Awareness Day (June 18)
- Juneteenth (June 19)
- Pride (June 20-28)
- World Fragile X Day for Autism (July 22)
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness (Sept. 1-7)
10 Tampa Bay reached out to all county commissioners in Manatee, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. We asked for their opinions on this change and the message it sends.
“The State set up a process to bring about consensus among the three counties. We have been following this process for several years. Now one Commissioner wants to cancel the whole thing. It makes a sham of the process," Pinellas County Commissioner Charlie Justice shared. "And we miss the opportunity to bring awareness and recognition to our LGBTQ community, to bring awareness for those who are working to eradicate diseases, to bring awareness of those living with Autism - this is just wrong for so many reasons. The State should follow the process they set up.”
When 10 Tampa Bay asked Governor Ron DeSantis's office for comment on the concerns, his communications director Bryan Griffin responded, saying "red, white, [sic] and blue are the colors of the United States. Therefore, we are celebrating America."
Malique Rankin is a general assignment reporter with 10 Tampa Bay. You can email her story ideas at mrankin@10tampabay.com and follow her Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.