On Wednesday, August 21st, it was revealed that Florida’s tourism marketing agency, Visit Florida, quietly removed its “LGBTQ Travel” section from its website, sparking concerns and criticism from business owners and LGBTQ+ advocates. The removal is the latest development in what some view as a broader effort by the state, under Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, to marginalize the LGBTQ+ community through various policies and actions.
Key cities in Florida, such as Key West, Fort Lauderdale, and Wilton Manors, have long been recognized as top destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists. The now-removed section on Visit Florida’s website had previously highlighted the state’s beaches, warm weather, and welcoming atmosphere, particularly for the LGBTQ+ community. The decision to eliminate this information has been met with dismay by those in the tourism industry who see it as a deliberate attempt to erase the community’s visibility and contributions to the state.
Keith Blackburn, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, expressed his frustration, stating, “They seem to want to erase us.” He noted that the change, coupled with other anti-LGBTQ+ policies in the state, makes it increasingly difficult to promote South Florida as an inclusive and welcoming destination. Blackburn emphasized that many Florida cities remain inclusive and have gay elected officials and LGBTQ+-owned businesses despite the state government’s actions.
The change on Visit Florida’s website comes amid a broader climate of legislative and executive actions in Florida that have drawn national attention and criticism. Governor DeSantis has supported several measures seen as hostile to the LGBTQ+ community, including laws restricting classroom instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity and banning gender-affirming care for minors. These policies have prompted civil rights groups to issue travel advisories warning of Florida’s “openly hostile” environment toward LGBTQ+ individuals, among others.
Visit Florida, a public-private partnership funded in part by the state, has not provided an explanation for the removal of the LGBTQ+ travel section, nor have its leaders responded to inquiries about the decision. This lack of transparency has further fueled concerns about the state’s intentions and the potential impact on Florida’s reputation as a top tourist destination.
As Florida continues to navigate the complex dynamics between state policies and its diverse communities, the decision to remove LGBTQ+ travel information from the state’s official tourism website is likely to have lasting implications. Business owners and advocates are now faced with the challenge of promoting inclusivity in a state where official actions seem increasingly at odds with the values of many of its residents and visitors.
