In a recent development, four Republican state lawmakers from Central Florida have voiced their intent to explore every available legislative, legal, and executive avenue to overturn a unique initiative in the small town of Mount Dora. The initiative, known as ‘Safe Spaces,’ aims to provide protection and support for the LGBTQ+ community. State Senator Dennis Baxley, joined by state Representatives Keith L. Truenow, Taylor Michael Yarkosky, and Stan McClain, expressed their outrage in an August 21st letter addressed to the City of Mount Dora.
Controversy Over Safe Places
The controversy centers around the city’s ‘Safe Place’ program, a joint effort between the City of Mount Dora and the Mount Dora Police Department (MDPD). This initiative is dedicated to ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors, including those who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ+). Its mission is to provide accessible safety information and designate safe locations throughout the city for individuals who may become victims of anti-LGBTQ+ or other hate crimes. These crimes can be motivated by various factors, including sexual orientation, gender identity, and more.
Under this program, the MDPD provides decals to city facilities, local businesses, and organizations, marking them as ‘Safe Spaces.’ If anyone seeks refuge in one of these locations and becomes a victim of a crime, the police will be promptly notified. However, the four lawmakers argue that there have been no recorded incidents of anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes or hate-motivated attacks in the past decade. They view the city’s actions as divisive and unwarranted, alleging that it unfairly singles out certain groups, potentially alienating both visitors and residents.
The Impact of Florida’s Political Landscape
The backdrop of this controversy is the political landscape of Florida, where the administration of Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has passed laws that significantly curtail the civil rights of LGBTQ+ individuals. These actions have amplified anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment within the state. In response to this, two major civil and human rights organizations, Equality Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition, have taken the unprecedented step of cautioning travelers against visiting the ‘Sunshine State.’ They cite policies that are hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, as well as restrictions on reproductive health care, changes to gun safety laws, racial prejudice, and efforts to control education curricula as reasons for their warning.
The Human Rights Campaign, the largest LGBTQ+ rights organization in the United States, has also issued a travel advisory for Florida, joining other civil rights groups. They express concerns that the newly enacted laws and policies in the state may pose risks to minorities, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ travelers. As Mount Dora becomes a focal point of this ongoing debate, the struggle between inclusivity and political ideology continues to unfold in the state of Florida.