![\"tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ430YU-VIEWIMAGE\"](\"http:\/\/lynettelockhart.com\/client\/wp-content\/uploads\/Reuters_Direct_Media\/USOnlineReportSportsNews\/tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ430YU-VIEWIMAGE.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\nBy Steve Keating<\/p>\n
MIAMI (Reuters) – It’s probably safe to say Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will not be cheering for Lewis Hamilton this weekend at the Miami Grand Prix and the Mercedes seven-times world champion made it clear he is no supporter of the Republican leader.<\/p>\n
A long-time champion of LGBTQ+ rights, Hamilton will have a Rainbow Flag on his helmet for Sunday’s race and said he stands with the gay, lesbian and transgender community that has come under attack by DeSantis.<\/p>\n
DeSantis, who has declared Florida is “where woke comes to die”, recently passed a law banning classroom discussion of sexuality and gender identity with younger children, dubbed by critics as the “don’t say gay” bill.<\/p>\n
“I have read and heard about some of decision made in government here and I do not agree with it and I do not support it,” flatly stated Hamilton during a media scrum on Thursday. “I continue to stand with the LGBTQ community.<\/p>\n
“Whilst I’m here I’m just going to continue to be supportive just by being here and having that on my helmet hopefully that speaks more.”<\/p>\n
Hamilton has used his global platform and celebrity to campaign for everything from diversity and racial equality to LGBTQ+ rights.<\/p>\n
He has urged Formula One to do more to push for human rights, saying the issue was a \u201cmassive problem\u201d in some of the sport\u2019s host countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and has worn Black Lives Matter T-shirts in support of that movement.<\/p>\n
“I’m wearing the Rainbow Flag on my helmet this weekend and I just really want to continue to support the community here and let them know I stand with them and I hope they continue to fight against it,” said the Briton. <\/p>\n
“This isn’t the people of Miami making these decisions, it’s the people in government and that’s the issue.<\/p>\n
\n(Reporting by Steve Keating in Miami; Editing by Stephen Coates)<\/p>\n
![\"tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ430YV-VIEWIMAGE\"](\"http:\/\/lynettelockhart.com\/client\/wp-content\/uploads\/Reuters_Direct_Media\/USOnlineReportSportsNews\/tagreuters.com2023binary_LYNXMPEJ430YV-VIEWIMAGE.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"