Mayor decries ‘creeping level of hate’ after vandals deface LGBTQ pride flag painted on street just off Fort Lauderdale beach

© Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS Part of the progress pride flag on Sebastian Street just off Fort Lauderdale Beach on Monday. “Somebody left skid marks that were clearly deliberate — deliberate and intended to deface the LGBTQ flag,” Mayor Dean Trantalis said Monday. The Fort Lauderdale Police Department is investigating, Detective Ali Adamson, a department spokesperson, said Monday via email. © Carline Jean/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS An LGBTQ progress pride flag, at left, is seen on Feb. 24 along Sebastian Street in Fort Lauderdale. The portion of Fort Lauderdale Beach near Sebastian Street is widely known as an LGBTQ beach.