The religious anti-LGBT movement used to tell people to “pray the gay away.” That didn’t work.

Now they’re legislating the gay away, and it’s working.

Equality Florida is warning people to think twice before visiting or moving to the state. The organization issued a travel advisory that warns of risks to health, safety, and freedom of LGBT within the borders. They cite many new laws targeting the LGBT community, including assaults on the trans community, LGBT youth, drag entertainment, and more.

“As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Florida’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms,” said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director. 

They also point out that Gov. Ron DeSantis, who appears to be running a shadow campaign for president, is weaponizing the state’s bureaucracy, targeting liquor licenses of venues that host drag entertainment. A bill classifying all drag entertainment as adult entertainment is expected to pass and become law.

Equality Florida’s travel advisory details assaults on medical, academic, arts, sports, business, and immigrants, as well as blatant attempts to erase LGBT from every corner of the state. They also note a dangerous expansion of gun culture and attempts to inflame racial tensions as motives behind their work.

Everyone Welcome

Visit Lauderdale, Broward County’s influential tourism arm, continues to do outreach in the LGBT community. Last year they launched their “Everyone Under the Sun” marketing campaign, which stresses diversity and inclusion.

Stacy Ritter, Visit Lauderdale’s CEO and President, said this is a tough, but understandable move.

“We are disappointed but not surprised by the position Equality Florida has taken. The LGBTQ+ community has had to endure a daily barrage of attacks by the leadership in Tallahassee, some reverting to calling members of that community ‘mutants,’ in a concerted attempt to dehumanize and marginalize people who are just living their lives.”

But despite the unwelcoming messages oozing out of Tallahassee, she says her team will continue working to make Greater Fort Lauderdale attractive, open, and safe for everyone.

“Visit Lauderdale, however, will continue to embrace our ‘Everyone Under The Sun’ mantra and showcase Broward County as the inclusive and accepting place we know it is. We are proud of our diversity and we welcome and celebrate what makes each of us unique but also what binds us together, all of us, as members of the human race.”