It’s time to move on from Pride Fort Lauderdale and rebuild the organization.
While Miik Martorell and his team have truly worked hard to build a sense of pride in the community, it’s time for new leadership. In 2024, we will have an election like no other, with so much on the line it’s time to take pride in our community, organize, and focus our efforts on protecting what truly matters — our right to live free. Unfortunately, it seems that Pride Fort Lauderdale is at a stalemate. Between poor organization, a lack of transparency, a lack of diversity, and most importantly a lack of trust in the organization — it’s time for new leadership.
I’m calling on the city of Fort Lauderdale, the residents, the community, and most importantly Mayor Dean Trantalis to work to form a functional Pride organization. One that truly represents all aspects of the community — one that isn’t just an opportunity to binge-drink on the beach, but one that brings resources to the community and most importantly celebrates our rights to be ourselves.
We cannot truly organize as a community that builds ourselves up with just a monthly bingo night and articles about a group's infighting and lack of community engagement, especially when it comes to a board. Too many questions continue to linger about the organization from how money is spent, to why the organization is traveling to other Prides selling knockoff Disney fans. We must have transparency in our community groups. We need to know when and where meetings are held, and how decisions are made, to feel reassured and confident in our new Pride organization.
It’s time to move on, reorganize and rebuild. Miik, thank you for what you have accomplished but, it's time to step aside and allow for new leadership. We need a Pride group that's truly built from members of the community who believe in fostering a community spirit and transparency. Members of the community and Mayor Trantalis — it’s time for action — it’s time for new leadership.
Respectfully,
Dave Jones, a member of the community
