U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) poses with protestors outside Chelsea Piers. (Photo credit: Rep. Carolyn Maloney/Twitter)
An appearance by Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking to the Jewish Leadership Conference at Chelsea Piers, sparked protests June 12 by LGBTQ advocacy groups and several elected officials including U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.).
The appearance by DeSantis, who signed the state’s infamous “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” law and during a press conference last week suggested he might urge the state’s child protective services to investigate parents who take their children to drag shows, was decried as insensitive and offensive during Pride Month, held every June to commemorate the 1969 LGBTQ uprising at the Stonewall Inn, which is located about 2 miles away.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman, who represents Chelsea, joined other Democratic politicians and New York City leaders and urged Chelsea Piers to say no to hate and demagoguery.
“The bottom line is Chelsea Piers is providing a venue to propagate hate toward the LGBTQ community and that is unacceptable on many levels, including that it is Pride and that it is in Chelsea, the heart of the community,” Hoylman said.
Maloney tweeted her disgust at both the Florida governor and Chelsea Piers.
Chelsea Piers decision to host Ron DeSantis – a homophobe – is outright disgraceful.
But NYers are tough as hell and we’re standing up for what is right: Not letting Ron DeSantis speak at Chelsea Piers #SayGay pic.twitter.com/IbYHo90Dnn
— Carolyn B. Maloney (@CarolynBMaloney) June 12, 2022
In a tweet of his own, DeSantis fired back at his critics.
Just wrapped speaking at the Jewish Leadership Conference discussing the Florida Blueprint.
They tried to cancel me. But here I stand.
Great to see so many future residents of Florida! pic.twitter.com/hwK1ACqEfR
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantisFL) June 12, 2022
The venue told the New York Times that it would be donating money to groups that support LGBTQ rights to mitigate the fallout. The Times reported the decision by Chelsea Piers to donate money has not mollified critics.
Other groups are canceling upcoming events at Chelsea Piers. Rich Ferraro, a spokesman for GLAAD, said his organization would “refrain from future events” at the complex, “given the platform that Chelsea Piers is giving to one of the most anti-LGBTQ and dangerous politicians today.”
The Ali Forney Center, a group that works with homeless LGBTQ youth in New York, said June 10 that it would no longer be holding a program there next month.
“People are saying this issue is about freedom of speech, but it is not. It is in response to DeSantis silencing freedom of speech in schools,” the group’s president, Alex Roque, wrote in a statement.
