OPINION:
Defenders of the LGBTQ faith — Equality Florida as well as the Florida Immigrant Coalition, an umbrella organization for dozens of leftist groups — have issued travel warnings against the Sunshine State, saying Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republicans have made it a most inhospitable place for men who pretend to be women to visit. Well, they said it a bit differently. But the end result of the message is the same: that is — if you’re LGBTQ, stay out of Florida.
And that, of course, means: if you’re sane and not prone to play the LGBTQ liar game, then Florida is exactly the state to visit. Or live.
Florida has become the refuge of the sane.
In 2022, Florida saw a net migration of 318,855, topping the list of states where people relocated, according to Census Bureau data. In January, meanwhile, Forbes reported the top 10 states Americans were fleeing included, in order, California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts — liberal enclaves. And where’d they go? Texas and Florida. Places of comparative freedom and limited government. And don’t forget — sanity.
Florida’s Republican leadership has implemented restrictions on drag shows and pride parades — the places where pedophiles and the mentally unstable go to prey openly on little children. The governor’s also taken up the fight against Disney, which in recent years has gone full-blown lunatic with the LGBTQ push on little kids. Meanwhile, boys who want to pretend to be girls in order to dominate the fields and courts of female athletic competition have a tougher time doing so in Florida now, thanks to pushback from Republican pols. And don’t forget the Parental Rights in Education Act signed by DeSantis in early 2022, barring teachers in public schools from drilling into third-graders’ heads that they can be whatever sex they want to be, simply by choosing to wear this, not that, and by insisting on whatever pronoun they wish.
That all means, to the LGBTQ activist crowd, anyway, that Florida is no-go zone for the foreseeable future.
“Equality Florida took the extraordinary step of issuing a travel advisory, warning of the risks posed to the health, safety and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state,” Equality Florida wrote in a news release.
Why?
“[Because of] laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ community, restrict access to reproductive health care, repeal gun safety laws, foment racial prejudice and attack public education by banning books and censoring curriculum.”
Headlines are rocking.
“Florida LGBTQ group warns against travel after ‘hateful’ laws,” The Washington Post wrote.
“LGBTQ immigrant advocacy groups issue Florida travel advisory over DeSantis policies,” the Tallahassee Democrat wrote.
“Human rights org warns LGBTQ+ travelers against visiting Florida,” Pink News wrote.
And then this — a particularly hyperbolic headline from The Advocate: “Florida Politician Supports Eradication of LGBTQ+ Community.”
My, my, my.
How the rallies against reason do flow.
The more the LGBTQ community rages against Florida for Florida’s sound and sensible laws and policies aimed at protecting the innocent and vulnerable, the more the message is sent far and wide: If you are of stable mind and freedom-loving bent — come to the Sunshine State. It’s where all the sane people go these days.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley. Listen to her podcast “Bold and Blunt” by clicking HERE. And never miss her column; subscribe to her newsletter and podcast by clicking HERE. Her latest book, “Lockdown: The Socialist Plan To Take Away Your Freedom,” is available by clicking HERE or clicking HERE or CLICKING HERE.
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