Florida Republican is BANNED from Miami Pride parade a year after trolling crowd by blowing kisses from his car - despite 'anti-LGBTQ stance'

A Florida Republican who has been banned from this year's Miami Pride parade a year despite his 'anti-LGBTQ stance,' has threatened to sue parade organizers and local governments.

Fabian Basabe, 46, who was pictured at last year's pride parade trolling a crowd and blowing kisses from his red Chevy convertible as it rolled down Ocean Drive, learned through a text that he was not welcome at this year's pride parade slated for April 14.

Bruce Horwich, the chair of the nonprofit that oversees the parade, told Basabe on March 16, less than four weeks away from the grand event, that they 'can't risk'  having him in the parade this year.

Horwich said: 'Our bylaws clearly state that we can't have participants that put themselves or other participants at risk or antagonize our guests.'

But the controversial Republican lawmaker countered and told the Miami Herald 'Preparations for a suit in federal court are well underway. My civil liberties are not up for debate.'

Horwich noted that the Miami Pride Board decision was not a political one.

Fabian Basabe, 46, became member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 106th district November 2022 

The controversial Republican lawmaker was seen atop his red Chevy convertible as it rolled down Ocean Drive holding up a sign that he loves the Sunshine State 

One protestor held up a sign that read: 'Shame on Red Basabe Voted Against Drag Queens.'

During last April's event, Basabe was seen waving joyfully at the crowd holding up a sign that he loves Florida, but was booed by parade goers with some yelling out 'shame' for his stance on supporting anti-LGBTQ legislation.

One protestor held up a sign that read: 'Shame on Red Basabe Voted Against Drag Queens,' while others held up a sign with the words: 'Resign.'

In the text Horwich sent to Basabe, last month, he stated: 'We have had Republicans, Democrats and Independent parties in our parade and festival in the past and welcome all political views unless they are planning or have shown from the past that they are a security risk.'

Basabe's attorney Kent Harrison Robbins issued a letter to Horwich on Friday morning insisting that his client will 'be allowed to participate.' 

In the letter, Robbins stated that excluding Basabe from the parade 'would be willfully, knowingly and intentionally abridging [Basabe's] First Amendment right to free speech and to peaceably assemble on a public street.'

 'Legal precedents from the federal courts, including the United States Supreme Court, have ruled that a concern that there may be physical opposition to [Basabe] is not a legal justification for violating his speech and assembly rights,' he wrote. 

'Basabe must be allowed to participate in The Pride Parade and he must be notified immediately through my offices that he will be allowed to do so without any impediments.'

Another parade goer held a sign with the words: 'RESIGN'

Basabe (second to left) pictured with 50 Cent, and Cuba Gooding Jr. at a birthday dinner for Cuba Gooding Jr. hosted by 50 Cent at Sopra Miami on December 31, 2023 in Miami Beach

Fabian Basabe and Cuba Gooding Jr are seen on October 21, 2023 in Miami, Florida

But, Horwich told the Miami Herald that Basabe is welcome to attend the event as a  spectator, though he said that he and parade organizers decide who can participate, as per the Herald.

He added that those interested in attending Miami Pride can sign up to walk or ride in the parade, and pay a registration fee through their website.

Horwich told Basabe he would issue a refund if he registered, as per the news outlet. 

'My number one priority as chairman is safety at the parade and at the festival,' Horwich said. 

'The board decides who can be in the parade — which is everybody, as long as you're not a threat to the spectators and other participants.'

Basabe hit back and told parade organizers in a message which accused them of allowing 'extremist' protesters 'to agitate the crowds and incite violence against me for political purpose' during last year's Pride event.

He said: 'You have no right to exclude me, not as an individual nor as an elected official, nor may you attempt to set me up again with a bogus 'public safety claim,' Basabe wrote. 

'I have always attended this parade peacefully.'

The businessman turned reality star, who became a member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 106th district in 2022, pictured in Miami in January 

Since he was elected, Basabe has be an opponent against LGBTQ advocacy groups. He has accused them of misrepresenting legislation he has supported, including the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, that have been among Basabe's critics.

Demonstrators with Equality Florida gathered outside of Basabe's office in North Bay Village in protest, days before last year's pride event. 

The protestors claimed that the Republican lawmaker  'cozied up to Ron DeSantis and his Republican cronies and stabbed us in the back.'

People block the road to express their anger toward Florida State House Rep. Fabian Basabe (R) as he rides in the 15th annual Miami Beach Pride Celebration parade on April 16, 2023 in Miami Beach

The businessman turned reality star, who became a member of the Florida House of Representatives for the 106th district in 2022, has been the center of multiple controversies since he was elected.

It was reported that when Basabe was campaigning in 2022, he told voters he would be a champion of gay rights, and other social liberal causes, which garnered support from some local Democrats.

Though he was quiet about his own sexuality on the trail, he introduced himself as a 'gay candidate' at a Florida LGBTQ Democratic Caucus conference a year earlier when he was running for Miami Beach City Commission, as per the news outlet. 

The married father of a teenage son was accused of sexual harassment by two former staffers who filed a lawsuit against him in July 2023, the Miami Herald reported.

Aaron Bos-Lun, a local LGBTQ advocate, referred to him as the 'George Santos of Florida,'  in a New York Magazine article that profiled the politician last year. 

Bos-Lun, who helps run several anti-Basabe social-media accounts, called Stopthebully on X and Instagram, told the magazine that his role is 'a necessary public service to expose someone so willing to lie.'