Lesbian couple sues Key West after being fined for rainbow fence
A lesbian couple were threatened with daily fines over their rainbow fence (Federal Courts/PACER)
A lesbian couple in Key West is suing the city after officials threatened them with daily fines over a rainbow-painted fence created in protest of Florida’s removal of Pride crosswalks.
Coley Sohn and Linda Bagley-Sohn repainted several fence pickets outside their home in rainbow colours after the city voted to comply with demands issued on 30 June 2025, by Gov. Ron DeSantis to remove decorated crosswalks and sidewalks, citing claims they posed a safety risk to the public.
According to the lawsuit, more than 50 local residents painted their own fences in solidarity, but the Bagley-Sohn family was singled out for enforcement after a complaint was filed by a neighbour. The couple says they faced fines of up to $250 per day unless the fence was repainted white. The couple applied for a permit to paint their fence in December 2025, but were denied in February after the city determined the display violated code by using unapproved colours.
The Bagley-Sohn household repainted their fence white on 26 March to avoid further fines.
Backed by the ACLU of Florida, the lawsuit argues the city selectively enforced its colour code based on the message being expressed. “No one should lose their right to speak out simply because those in power disagree with the message,” Sohn said, as per The Advocate. “That’s what the First Amendment protects us from.”
The complaint also points to other colourful homes across Key West that were never cited by code enforcement, arguing the rainbow pattern associated with LGBTQ+ Pride is what triggered the city’s response.
“The government cannot enforce a law against people who express particular messages or views, while ignoring violations with different content or messages,” said ACLU attorney Nicholas Warren. The lawsuit claims the city’s actions amount to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and political censorship.
Share your thoughts! Let us know in the comments below, and remember to keep the conversation respectful.
