LGBT group warns against travel to Florida following NAACP alert.

Travel Advisory Issued for Florida by LGBT Advocacy Group

An LGBT advocacy group has issued a travel advisory for those traveling to Florida, alleging that the state’s government has enacted laws that “are hostile to the LGBTQ community,” among other claims.

The advisory, from the LGBT group the Human Rights Campaign, updates a previously issued travel warning from another LGBT group, Equality Florida, and outlines laws passed by the state this year, including statutes prohibiting the instruction of gender identity from kindergarten through eight grade and laws banning diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools.

The groups say the advisory is “not a blanket recommendation against travel nor a call for boycott” but is intended to inform about laws they claim will have “devastating impacts.”

The travel advisory comes days after the NAACP issued its own advisory claiming that the Sunshine State is “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals.”

Florida’s Hostility Toward LGBTQ+ Community

“Because of Ron DeSantis and his frenzied appeal to extremists, LGBTQ+ people in Florida are finding themselves in a state of emergency every single day. Since the day he took office, Governor DeSantis has weaponized his position to weave bigotry, hate, and discrimination into public law for his own political gain. We see it as our duty to join Equality Florida — and LULAC and the NAACP — to provide guidance to our community,” Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.

Sen. Rick Scott’s Response

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) mocked the NAACP’s advisory on Tuesday, issuing his own travel advisory warning socialists and communists to avoid the state due to hostility toward them. “Florida is openly hostile toward Socialists, Communists, and those that enable them. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by Socialists and others who work in the Biden Administration,” Scott’s advisory warned.

Conclusion

While the travel advisory is not a call for boycott, it is important to be aware of the laws and attitudes in the state of Florida before planning a trip. It is up to each individual to decide whether or not to travel to Florida, but it is important to be informed about the potential impacts of these laws on the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups.