Equality Florida, a civil rights organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ equality, has issued a travel advisory to LGBTQ+ people planning to visit Florida. The advisory warns of the health, safety, and freedom risks posed to queer people in the state following the passage of several anti-LGBTQ+ bills. This is believed to be the first time a state has issued such a warning to potential travelers.
Florida has been at the forefront of the wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation being tabled across the United States, seeking to ban drag, prohibit gender-affirming care, prevent trans people from playing sports, and roll back anti-discrimination protections. Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the Parental Rights in Education Act, also known as Don’t Say Gay, into law. The legislation prohibits teachers and third parties from talking about LGBTQ+ topics in the classroom up to third grade, with plans to expand its reach to eighth grade. In addition, DeSantis has removed LGBTQ+ books from schools and even banned an AP African American studies course from Florida high schools, arguing that it lacked “educational value.”
In response to the state’s targeted attacks on academic freedom, the arts, sport, and medical freedom, Equality Florida’s executive director, Nadine Smith, issued a statement urging LGBTQ+ travelers to weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety. The advisory outlines the state’s various anti-LGBTQ+ laws and policies that threaten basic freedoms and rights, and the serious risk they pose to the health and safety of those traveling to the state.
The advisory also encourages Floridians to stay and engage more deeply in the fight against the state’s all-out assaults on democracy and freedom. Smith adds, “Whether you stay away, leave, or remain, we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks. Help reimagine and build a Florida that is truly safe for and open to all, and where freedom is a reality, not a hollow campaign slogan.”
In 2022, Florida had a record 137.6 million visitors, with people from other states accounting for 93% of the total. However, the state’s anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has caused concern for many LGBTQ+ travelers, leading Equality Florida to issue this unprecedented travel warning.