Mike Ferrari and Bob Plominski have lived in Eastland Cove, a small suburban development north of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for about 10 years. “We call it our little oasis,” Mr. Ferrari said.
Over the years, he said, the couple have flown various flags outside their home in Oakland Park, including flags for political candidates, the March for Our Lives and the Pride flag.
No one had ever complained, he said, until this month when the couple hung a small rainbow flag from their mailbox to celebrate Pride Month.
A few days later, on June 8, Mr. Ferrari said, the couple received a notice from the Eastland Cove Homeowners Association warning that they could be fined if the flag was not removed. Homeowners can display only the flags of the United States, the state of Florida or the branches of the armed forces, or the P.O.W./M.I.A. flag, according to a copy of the notice. The couple could face a fine of up to $50 and then a daily fine of $10 if they do not comply within 30 days, under the association’s covenants.
Bob Brosseau, president of the board of the Eastland Cove Homeowners Association, said someone had complained to the board about the rainbow flag, leaving it no choice but to enforce its rules against flying flags other than those the association allows.
“We never had a complaint, and once we receive a complaint and we don’t act on it, the board can get sued,” Mr. Brosseau said. “Once it is brought up to the board as a complaint, we have to act on it.”
Still, Mr. Brosseau said, he and another board member had voted against issuing the violation notice. The board vote was 3 to 2, he said.
“As a board member, I was very upset that it was even brought up,” he said. “I don’t have a problem with” the rainbow flag.
The violation notice that the association sent to Mr. Ferrari and Mr. Plominski cited the association’s policy on flagpoles, but it said that the group’s board of directors had determined that it applied to any display of a flag.
Mr. Ferrari said they were not going to remove the flag.
“My husband and I decided we weren’t going to stand by and take down our flag because somebody, I feel, was offended by the flag in our community,” he said. “Ten dollars, $50, $100 a day — it’s staying up.”
In fact, he said, the couple had displayed more rainbow flags outside their home since they received the violation notice, and they had handed out rainbow flags to neighbors who had come by to show their support.
“I have the right to put up a Pride flag in celebration of what our gay community has fought for, for so long,” Mr. Ferrari said. “It’s a flag of happiness and joy and celebration, and there’s nothing mean about it. And it’s a pretty flag.”
In an email on Sunday, Mr. Ferrari said that he had gone door to door in the development, offering Pride flags. Eleven of the couple’s neighbors were now…
Read More: They Put Up a Pride Flag. A Florida Homeowners’ Group Said Take It Down.