The warnings come from Equality Florida, the Florida Immigration Coalition, and the NAACP's Florida State Conference.
LGBTQ+ advocacy group Equality Florida has issued a travel warning informing individuals of the risks of visiting and relocating to Florida. “While losing conferences, and top students who have written off Florida threatens lasting damage to our state,” the group wrote, “it is most heartbreaking to hear from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans, and health care restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children.”
The statement highlights the growing concerns of parents who are considering relocating, students unwilling to enroll in state universities, and events and conferences that have been canceled due to hostile policies.
The Florida Immigration Coalition also has also issued a similar warning for immigrants. “Travel to all areas of Florida should be done with extreme caution as it can be unsafe for people of color, individuals who speak with an accent, and international travelers. Due to unconstitutional legislation supported by Governor Ron DeSantis and introduced by Legislative Leadership, every county in Florida poses a heightened risk of harassment, possible detainment, and potential family separation based on racial profiling.”
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The Florida State Conference of the NAACP also voted to issue a travel advisory against Florida. “Any location in America where our history has been erased does not offer us, or our children a bright future,” Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell said.
Unfriendly Bills
Last year, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education bill. Critics have condemned the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” legislation, which has banned teachers from educating students about gender identity or sexual orientation in many classrooms. The bill states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
Parents have to be notified if there’s a change in the child’s mental or emotional well-being, meaning a child can be outed without their consent or knowledge. If the policy is violated, the bill gives parents the right to sue the school district.
Now the governor—who may be running for president in 2024—is talking about expanding the law to all grades.
In 2021, DeSantis curtailed transgender rights when he barred transgender women from playing sports in schools as part of teams intended for people assigned female at birth. Florida has also banned transgender children from receiving gender-affirming care.
Last year, the state passed legislation censoring Black history taught in schools, as well as banning books on race and LGBTQ+ issues.
The governor is making news for many other reasons, too. This month, he quietly signed a bill that allows residents to carry a weapon without a license, training, or background check. Just this week, Florida banned abortions after six weeks.
DeSantis is also involved in a public feud with Disney, ever since the state’s largest corporate employer criticized the Don’t Say Gay bill.
You people attacking the site need to check yourselves it is a travel service who is providing information to potential customers. Listen to how you sound. Just what you have said completely injects politics into this. If the info doesn't matter to you move on and stop hating on everyone. People want to just feel informed about where they travel and guess what I have yet to hear any of you deny any of the facts that were provided regarding FL laws because they are the laws and you can't. All it proves is the hate and fear that lives in your minds and as someone I suspect most of you would quote said. What would Jesus do? Look inside yourselves and if you need talk to your pastor, preacher, priest, friends and get some insight to how you sound and appear acting this way. By the way I live in FL and it is beyond sad to have to explain to your child why the school library pulled every book of the shelf that has been there for decades.
Exactly! Isn't that disgusting. I used to put Foders on a pedistel when it came to recommendations.
I'll be on a cruise this summer out of Miami-- flying in and out directly without an overnight stay. I regret booking it through that port and I won't in the future. It will be my last visit to Florida, especially as a gay man. I don't expect the situation to improve there, at least not in my lifetime.
As a gay man who live in Florida your statement makes no sense. We are ok for you not coming back. There are a million other people waiting in line behind you to come here. They don't give 2 sh*ts about these blowhards over reactions.