It’s Friday! Time to bash some homos!

Few acts by Hillsborough commissioners have shamed the [Florida] county like Wednesday’s vote stoking antigay bigotry. The board voted 5-1 to “abstain from acknowledging, promoting or participating in gay pride recognition and events.” The move has dubious legal force – no one bothered to ask the lawyers beforehand what the declaration might mean. Still, it is alarming that elected representatives would foster discrimination as a matter of policy.

The Christmas parade, St. Patrick’s Day parade, Columbus Day parade, Cinco de Mayo celebration, Black History Month, Chinese New Year, and Passover celebrations will remain unaffected by the vote.

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio immediately denounced the move, which within hours reverberated worldwide through media reports and Internet sites. The county’s image will suffer. The board made Hillsborough look ignorant and crude, just as local government is spending millions in tax dollars to attract artists, creative industries, tourists and conventions. Those commissioners who voted for it should explain the value they saw in running down their own community.

Well, Mayor Iorio, it’s certainly a lot better than the board’s original plan: posting signs at the county line that read “WELCOME TO HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY… HEY, NOT SO FAST, FAGGOTS!”