Outrage over a homophobic campaign ad may have led to the defeat of a mayoral candidate for the City of North Miami.
The ad targeted candidate Andre Pierre, showing him in a romantic, Titanic-inspired pose with outgoing Mayor Kevin Burns, who is openly gay and had endorsed Pierre. The ad’s headline reads, “Just close your eyes, Andre. They’re only icebergs.” It was paid for by Change North Miami, a group that had supported Pierre’s opponent, Frank Wolland.
After outcry about the ad, Pierre defeated Wolland in a runoff election June 2, even though Wolland received the most votes in the May 12 primary.
Equality Florida, who called the ad “desperate, anti-gay,” has demanded a public apology from Wolland and Change North Miami, calling 3,000 voters to inform them about the negative campaigning and issuing an email alert to thousands of North Miami Dade’s Equality Florida members.
