Equality Florida, an LGBTQ activist group, has issued a travel warning for the state of Florida in response to recent legislation that prohibits experimental child sex changes and bans pornographic books from being available in school libraries.
The warning has been issued to anyone considering visiting or relocating to the state, after the group received numerous safety inquiries following the passage of laws that the group claims are hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict access to reproductive healthcare, repeal gun safety laws, foment racial prejudice, and attack public education by banning books and censoring curriculum.
The group has accused Governor Ron DeSantis of weaponizing state agencies to push his extremist policies. In response, the Governors Press Secretary, Bryan Griffin, has labeled the advisory as a political stunt, saying, We are not going to waste time worrying about political stunts, but we'll continue doing what is right for Floridians.
The travel advisory warns of the risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long-term travel, or relocation to the state. Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida, stated on the groups website, As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Floridas 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.
Smith further added that the state is losing conferences and top students, but the most heartbreaking stories come from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans, and healthcare restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children. The healthcare restrictions to which Smith refers prohibit doctors from performing experimental sex changes on adolescents who are still going through a crucial stage of identity development.
In recent times, several European nations have placed serious restrictions on medical sex change interventions, such as puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for minors, after systematic reviews of the scientific literature revealed the evidence to support such interventions is of extremely poor quality.
Equality Florida also seems to be objecting to a proposed bill that seeks to prohibit books with pornographic content from being available in school library shelves. The group believes that such laws strip away the basic rights and freedoms of the LGBTQ community and pose a risk to their health, safety, and freedom.
Despite the travel advisory issued by Equality Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis remains firm in his stance, stating that his policies are in the best interest of Floridians. We'll continue doing what is right for Floridians, he said.
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