DeSantis reissues Pulse proclamation after backlash for not referencing LGBT community

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) reissued his remembrance proclamation of the Pulse nightclub shooting after receiving backlash for his original document, which didn’t acknowledge the LGBT community.

In his initial document, which State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D) posted on Twitter, DeSantis wrote, the names of the 49 victims of the Orlando gay nightclub shooting, which marks the deadliest attack against the LGBT community in U.S. history.

{mosads}“The entire state of Florida has come together to stand boldly with Orlando and the Central Florida community against terrorism,” the original document reads.

The proclamation was immediately met with backlash, with Eskamani calling it “straight-washed” and an “insult.”

“@GovRonDeSantis has stripped any mention of the #LGBTQ community in remembering #Pulse. This is completely straight-washed and an insult to #HD47,” Eskamani tweeted. “Based on these side-by-side Pulse proclamations, Governor Rick Scott was a better friend to LGBTQ Floridians than DeSantis.”

@GovRonDeSantis has stripped any mention of the #LGBTQ community in remembering #Pulse. This is completely straight-washed and an insult to #HD47.

Based on these side-by-side Pulse proclamations, Governor Rick Scott was a better friend to LGBTQ Floridians than DeSantis. pic.twitter.com/2nvUE343XG

— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani (@AnnaForFlorida) June 12, 2019

Shortly after, DeSantis issued the corrected proclamation, which says the “State of Florida continues to mourn the tragic loss of life and recognize the lasting impact it has on our state and communities, including Florida’s LGBTQ community.”

DeSantis acknowledged the correction on Twitter, saying, “I have directed today’s Pulse Remembrance Day proclamation be corrected and re-issued to include a direct reference to our LGBTQ and Hispanic communities who were attacked during this horrific act of violence at Pulse three years ago.”

DeSantis also ordered the state’s flags to be lowered to half-staff in commemoration of the massacre.

Helen Aguirre Ferré, a spokeswoman for the governor, told the Tampa Bay Times that “staff made an error in the previous version” of the proclamation and that the governor directed it to be updated.

I have directed today’s Pulse Remembrance Day proclamation be corrected and re-issued to include a direct reference to our LGBTQ and Hispanic communities who were attacked during this horrific act of violence at Pulse three years ago. pic.twitter.com/0lV6pqdQW0

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 12, 2019

Earlier this week, three U.S. representatives announced a proposal to designate the Pulse site as a national memorial. Rep. Darren Soto (D-Fla.) noted the move as “an important step in preserving an LGBT historic landmark at a time when many of these sites are being destroyed.”