Current:Home > reviewsFlorida quietly removes LGBTQ+ travel info from state website -FinanceMind
Florida quietly removes LGBTQ+ travel info from state website
View
Date:2025-04-13 07:43:48
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors and St. Petersburg are among several Florida cities that have long been top U.S. destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists. So it came as a surprise this week when travelers learned that Florida’s tourism marketing agency quietly removed the “LGBTQ Travel” section from its website sometime in the past few months.
Business owners who cater to Florida’s LGBTQ+ tourists said Wednesday that it marked the latest attempt by officials in the state to erase the LGBTQ+ community. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis previously championed a bill to forbid classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, and supported a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, as well as a law meant to keep children out of drag shows.
“It’s just disgusting to see this,” said Keith Blackburn, who heads the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “They seem to want to erase us.”
The change to Visit Florida’s website was first reported by NBC News, which noted a search query still pulls up some listings for LGBTQ+-friendly places despite the elimination of the section.
John Lai, who chairs Visit Florida’s board, didn’t respond to an email seeking comment Tuesday. Dana Young, Visit Florida’s CEO and president, didn’t respond to a voicemail message Wednesday, and neither did the agency’s public relations director.
Visit Florida is a public-private partnership between the state of Florida and the state’s tourism industry. The state contributes about $50 million each year to the quasi-public agency from two tourism and economic development funds.
Florida is one of the most popular states in the U.S. for tourists, and tourism is one of its biggest industries. Nearly 141 million tourists visited Florida in 2023, with out-of-state visitors contributing more than $102 billion to Florida’s economy.
Before the change, the LGBTQ+ section on Visit Florida’s website had read, “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.”
Blackburn said the change and other anti-LGBTQ+ policies out of Tallahassee make it more difficult for him to promote South Florida tourism since he encounters prospective travelers or travel promoters who say they don’t want to do business in the state.
Last year, for instance, several civil rights groups issued a travel advisory for Florida, saying that policies championed by DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
But visitors should also understand that many Florida cities are extremely inclusive, with gay elected officials and LGBTQ+-owned businesses, and they don’t reflect the policies coming from state government, Blackburn added.
“It’s difficult when these kinds of stories come out, and the state does these things, and we hear people calling for a boycott,” Blackburn said. “On one level, it’s embarrassing to have to explain why people should come to South Florida and our destination when the state is doing these things.”
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Sonya Massey's father decries possible release of former deputy charged with her death
- Relatives of passengers who died in Boeing Max crashes will face off in court with the company
- Martha Stewart admits to cheating on husband in Netflix doc trailer, says he 'never knew'
- Get Over to Athleta's Online Warehouse Sale for Chic Activewear up to 70% off, Finds Start at $12
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- What happened between Stephen and Monica on 'Love is Blind'? And what is a sleep test?
- Why Full House's Scott Curtis Avoided Candace Cameron Bure After First Kiss
- Joan Smalls calls out alleged racist remark from senior manager at modeling agency
- Biden administration makes final diplomatic push for stability across a turbulent Mideast
- DirecTV has a new free streaming service coming. Here's what we know
Ranking
- Rams vs. 49ers highlights: LA wins rainy defensive struggle in key divisional game
- Why Full House's Scott Curtis Avoided Candace Cameron Bure After First Kiss
- How to Really Pronounce Florence Pugh's Last Name
- Lizzo Breaks Down What She Eats in a Day Amid Major Lifestyle Change
- Juan Soto to be introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15
- Watch dad break down when Airman daughter returns home for his birthday after 3 years
- Tech CEO Justin Bingham Dead at 40 After 200-Ft. Fall at National Park in Utah
- Yes, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Mayor of Rome Are Fighting Over Emily in Paris
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
Fisher-Price recalls 2 million baby swings for suffocation risk after 5 deaths
Chicago Fed president sees rates falling at gradual pace despite hot jobs, inflation
Bestselling author Brendan DuBois indicted for possession of child sexual abuse materials
Federal hiring is about to get the Trump treatment
Fans of Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine's Idea of You Need This Update
Apple's insider leaks reveal the potential for a new AI fix
Far from landfall, Florida's inland counties and east coast still battered by Milton