The political landscape in Florida continues to worsen: After the controversial “Don’t Say Gay” law made international headlines, the next blow against the LGBTIQ* community has now followed. Without notice, the state tourism website “Visit Florida” has removed all content that was specifically aimed at queer travelers.
Until recently, the pages advertised with slogans like “Sunshine for All” and highlighted the state’s openness and diversity. LGBTIQ*-friendly beaches, Pride events and travel tips for queer people were prominently displayed. These pages have now disappeared.
A fatal signal
The removal of the content raises many questions, especially against the backdrop of Florida’s increasingly restrictive policies under Governor Ron DeSantisThe “Don’t Say Gay” law, which severely restricts discussions about sexual orientation and gender identity in schools, does not appear to be the last attempt to push queer people out of public life.
Stacy Ritter, CEO von Visit Lauderdale, is appalled by the decision:
“Eliminating an entire population is not a marketing strategy.”
Their criticism is not only directed against the cultural regression, but also against the economic stupidity of this measure. Queer tourism is a significant economic factor that generates billions of dollars worldwide every year. Florida could lose a large part of this income as a result of this move – a potential disaster for the tourism sector, which is the state’s most important source of income.
Resistance from the industry
While the official Florida tourism authority remains silent – inquiries from the media have not yet been answered – some local organizations are taking a combative approach. Visit Orlando and other tourism organizations clearly distance themselves from the decision and continue to actively promote LGBTIQ* travelers. They focus on diversity and inclusivity and see this not only as a moral but also an economic value. Visit Orlando explained to Forbes:
“While we cannot speak on behalf of Visit Florida, Visit Orlando actively welcomes LGBTQ travelers and promotes our destination.”
The future of queer tourism in Florida
Already last year, the Human Rights Campaignthe largest human rights organization in the USA, issued a travel warning for Florida due to the increasingly hostile legislation. Now the state could finally lose its reputation as an open and diverse travel destination.
*ck / Sources: queer.deForbes, NBC News
