LGBT and immigrant groups in Florida issue travel advisories for Sunshine State
Luke Gentile
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Florida LGBT and immigrant advocacy groups have issued travel advisories for the Sunshine State after the passage of recent legislation championed by Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL).
Equality Florida, the state’s largest LGBT organization, and the Florida Immigrant Coalition issued warnings, citing attacks by DeSantis and state Republicans on medical freedom, academic freedom, and the LGBT community.
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Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith said: “As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Florida’s reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms.”
“While losing conferences, and top students who have written off Florida threatens lasting damage to our state, it is most heartbreaking to hear from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans and health care restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children. We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks,” the statement read.
A Wednesday statement on the “Advisory Warning For Travel” by Equality Florida stated that “hateful laws” passed under DeSantis have made Florida unsafe to visit or take up residence in.
The Florida Immigration Coalition, a body representing over 65 groups, said the contemporary immigration policies of the Sunshine State represent a danger to immigrants, according to a statement released Wednesday.
“In Florida, routine daily activities for those who cannot immediately prove United States citizenship and lawful residency at all times may result in devastating consequences,” the statement read. “These consequences include arrest for operating a vehicle, no matter the state you are from, reduced access to health care services and compromised safety.”
The coalition’s advisory is chiefly in response to DeSantis’s push to pass legislation that would put pressure on businesses suspected of employing illegal immigrants and strengthen state ID laws.
The two advisories arrive a few weeks after the Florida NAACP voted to seek a travel advisory from its national board.
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DeSantis labeled the move as a joke.
“It’s a pure stunt, and fine, if you want to waste your time on a stunt, that’s fine. But I’m not wasting my time on your stunt,” he said.