Call it “Don’t Search Gay.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has removed the “LGBTQ Travel” section from the state’s website. Until recently, visitflorida.com, the state’s marketing website, featured a landing page for LGBTQ travel resources and business promotion.
Now, the page directs you to a more general list of things to do.
This may seem like a microaggression from politicians looking to score points with their base. However, the impact on businesses that are no longer highlighted will be huge. Broward County still has VisitLauderdale, a local board whose slogan is “Everyone Under the Sun.”
But Florida is a big state. LGBTQ establishments in small areas will be affected by the removal of easily accessible marketing.
DeSantis and his Republican supermajority in Tallahassee have spent years making Florida inhospitable and hostile to the LGBTQ community. Book bans in schools, denying healthcare to trans kids and adults, “Don’t Say Gay.” Many of them demonize LGBTQ as a whole.
When Disney dared to speak out against “Don’t Say Gay” the governor went after their special taxation district, costing the state hundreds of millions. Disney also canceled plans for a new facility in Florida that would have brought thousands of jobs.
The LGBTQ page once read, “SUNSHINE FOR ALL There’s a sense of freedom to Florida's beaches, the warm weather and the myriad activities – a draw for people of all orientations, but especially appealing to a gay community looking for a sense of belonging and acceptance. Whether you’re a couple seeking a romantic getaway or a modern family searching for kid-friendly fun, here are some LGBTQ-friendly destinations for you, throughout the Sunshine State.”
Now, the promise of pink-tinged sunshine, once so eloquently expressed, is erased.