Several civil rights organizations are now cautioning various minorities against traveling to Florida following a flurry of state legislation this year targeting the rights of Black Americans, immigrants, and LGBTQ individuals.
On Saturday, the NAACP joined the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a Latino rights advocacy group, and Equality Florida, an LGBTQ rights advocacy group, in issuing Florida travel advisories. The NAACP warned that Florida had become “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals,” highlighting its attacks on the teaching of Black history and on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools.
It’s unclear whether the organizations’ advisories will have any real impact on tourism, which is one of Florida’s biggest industries. According to Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’s office, a record 37.9 million travelers visited Florida in the first quarter of 2023, up 6.7 percent from a year ago and mostly driven by people coming from other US states. Overseas travel has not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels, but lawmakers hoping to change that are pouring $80 million into tourism campaigns next fiscal year, an increase of $30 million over this year.
Though those visitors were recorded before the civil rights organizations issued their advisories, DeSantis’s policies have been well-covered in the national media, suggesting that many decided to visit Florida even as the legislature has taken a hard right turn this session.
Earlier this month, DeSantis, who is expected to announce his 2024 presidential campaign this week, signed legislation preventing public funds from being used to support DEI programs at public colleges and universities. He’s also eliminated Advanced Placement courses in African American studies for high school students in the state and banned the teaching of “critical race theory” — an academic framework that examines the role of…
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