Florida traffic sign vandalized to say “Kill all gays”

Police are investigating after a digital traffic sign in Orlando, Florida flashed a violent and homophobic message to drivers.

A report came in around 4 a.m. Wednesday that a sign at the corner of Lake Nona Boulevard and Nemours Parkway was flashing “Kill all gays.”

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A statement from the Orlando Police Department to the Orlando Sentinel said the sign “appeared to be tampered with.”

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“We just know somebody got in there, did something unfortunate they shouldn’t have done, but the reason it happened was because the messaging box where you type in the messages was unlocked,” Orlando Commissioner Jim Gray told Click Orlando.

Gray said the sign was supposed to be advertising an upcoming 5k run but that the vendor, Flash-Rite, did not properly lock the box.

“We’ve told the vendor in the future that everything needs to be locked or else we’ll find a new vendor.”

“It’s the first thing you see when you enter Lake Nona, so you don’t want to see that hate being spread,” added resident Nico Cardoso.

Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer blasted the hateful act.

“Hate has no place in Orlando and this disgusting display is not who we are as a community,” he said in a statement. “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.”

Police have asked anyone with information to call (321) 235-5300.

Florida continues to be the epicenter of the GOP’s vendetta against LGBTQ+ people. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has spent his tenure spewing anti-LGBTQ+ hatred and taking away LGBTQ+ rights.

Just this week, DeSantis signed multiple transphobic bills into law, including a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, restrictions on such care for adults, a ban on all-ages drag shows, and an anti-trans bathroom bill.