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With Pride Month in full swing in the United States, rainbow flags—symbols of LGBTQ+ identification and allyship—are flying all over the United States.
Unfortunately, that dynamic has led to no shortage of headlines documenting anti-LGBTQ behavior over the last few weeks. Often, the intolerant rants and raves are the direct response to a flag proudly flown.
That was the experience of Bob Plominski and Mike Ferarri, a gay couple living in Oakland Park, Florida.
Their rainbow flag, noticeable for its modesty--about the size of a piece of paper--has forced the pair to decide between taking their flag down or paying a daily fine of $50.
That steep financial punishment for their sexuality came from none other than the Home Owner's Association of Eastland Cove, which oversees the residents of Oakland Park.
You can see local news coverage here:
Plominski told NBC 6 how it felt to receive the Home Owner's Association letter announcing the impending fine.
"I got upset. We've done this before and it's a simple showing of our pride to the community and it's up for 30 days."
"We were in shock they were going to do that."
Specifically, the letter, which was sent on June 5, told Plominski and Ferarri they'd be fined $50 for every day they leave the flag up past June 15.
Plominski, though, was unswayed.
"I really think the citation is because it's a gay pride flag and someone in the neighborhood is offended, simple as that."
"It's going to stay up until June 30th. We as a community worked really hard to earn and get to where we are today. We're not going to back down on this one."
NBC 6 went on to report that the Home Owner's Association claimed that asking the couple to take the flag down was not an act of discrimination because the association has a longstanding rule that prohbits the flying of any flag besides an American flag or a military flag.
But according to Plominski and Ferarri, they've put up political signs and even this very same pride flag in the past, and never faced any difficulty.
People couldn't believe the tiny flag had managed to stir up that much trouble in the neighborhood.
Louise Batista/Facebook
Alina Cid Nadal/Facebook
Others had some choice words for Home Owner's Associations in general.
Vance Carlisle Avinger/Facebook
Matt Sol/Facebook
Joseph Michael/Facebook
Joel S. Slotnick/Facebook
According to NBC 6, the couple can appeal the Home Owner's Association decision, but wouldn't have a hearing until July, long after Pride Month has ended and the flag taken down.