Florida's tourism marketing agency, Visit Florida, has quietly removed the "LGBTQ Travel" section from its official website. This change, which occurred over the past few months, has left many business owners and advocates in the LGBTQ+ community alarmed, seeing it as part of a broader effort by state officials to marginalize LGBTQ+ individuals.
Florida has long been a top destination for LGBTQ+ tourists, with cities like Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and St. Petersburg offering vibrant, inclusive environments. The removal of the LGBTQ+ section from Visit Florida's website comes as a surprise, particularly given the state's heavy reliance on tourism. In 2023 alone, nearly 141 million tourists visited Florida, contributing over $102 billion to the state's economy.
The deletion of this section follows a series of legislative actions championed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, which critics argue are aimed at diminishing the visibility and rights of the LGBTQ+ community. Among these measures are laws that ban classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity, prohibit gender-affirming care for minors, and restrict children's exposure to drag shows. These actions have drawn national attention and have been criticized by civil rights groups.
Keith Blackburn, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, expressed deep disappointment over the removal of the LGBTQ+ travel information. "It's just disgusting to see this," Blackburn said. "They seem to want to erase us." He added that the decision complicates efforts to promote South Florida as a welcoming destination, especially as he encounters travelers and promoters hesitant to engage with a state perceived as hostile to LGBTQ+ rights.
The now-removed LGBTQ+ section had previously promoted Florida as an inclusive destination, stating, "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." The absence of such messaging is seen as a significant loss for those marketing the state as a diverse and inclusive tourist destination.
Visit Florida, which operates as a public-private partnership with the state, receives approximately $50 million annually to promote tourism. Despite the importance of this agency in bolstering the state's economy, neither John Lai, chair of Visit Florida's board, nor Dana Young, the agency's CEO, responded to requests for comment on the removal of the LGBTQ+ section.
The change is not just a symbolic one; it has practical implications for businesses catering to LGBTQ+ tourists. Blackburn noted that the recent policies and the removal of the travel section make it increasingly difficult to attract LGBTQ+ visitors, especially when civil rights organizations have issued travel advisories warning that Florida's policies are "openly hostile" toward marginalized groups, including LGBTQ+ individuals.
However, Blackburn also emphasized that many Florida cities remain welcoming and inclusive, with a strong presence of gay elected officials and LGBTQ+-owned businesses. "Visitors should understand that the policies coming from the state government do not reflect the inclusive nature of many Florida cities," he said. Despite the state's controversial stance, he urged potential visitors to consider the local communities that continue to support diversity and inclusion.
The broader context of these developments includes the state's ongoing legal challenges to federal protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, including opposition to Title IX amendments proposed by the Biden administration that would extend anti-discrimination protections to LGBTQ+ students. Additionally, Florida state agencies have been accused of denying updated birth certificates to transgender individuals, further fueling the perception of the state's hostility toward the LGBTQ+ community.
