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DeSantis Faces Backlash for Pulse Anniversary Oversight

6/16/2025

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Summary

Story summary

On the ninth anniversary of the Pulse shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to fly at half-staff, yet notably excluded mentions of the LGBTQ+ and Hispanic communities. This shift drew sharp criticism from Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who accused DeSantis of valuing political gain over true compassion for the victims.

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Story summary

On the ninth anniversary of the Pulse shooting, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ordered flags to fly at half-staff, yet notably excluded mentions of the LGBTQ+ and Hispanic communities. This shift drew sharp criticism from Florida Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, who accused DeSantis of valuing political gain over true compassion for the victims.