Florida’s official tourism marketing agency, Visit Florida, is stirring commotion online following the recent removal of the “LGBTQ Travel” section from their website. The tab still appears on mobile browsers however users are redirected to the homepage when clicked. The move was first noticed by NBC News when a site search for LGBTQ-safe spots emerged even though the section was missing.
Known as the “sunshine state”, Florida has established an image as a more “free” part of the US, receiving many LGBTQ+ tourists from across the country. St. Petersburg, Fort Lauderdale, Key West and Wilton Manors are among the most popular destinations, and Visit Florida has featured several blog posts and videos about the state’s LGBTQ-friendly offerings, such as pride events, road trip suggestions and beaches.
Previously, the LGBTQ Travel section was headlined: “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.”
“It’s just disgusting to see this,” said Keith Blackburn, CEO at Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “They seem to want to erase us.” He went on to say that signs of anti-LGBTQ+ policies from the state’s capital, Tallahassee, makes promoting tourism in South Florida more challenging when faced with potential travel promoters and visitors who express reluctance in seeking business ventures in the state.
Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis has advocated in the past for a bill that prohibits teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms, backed a ban on gender-affirming care for minors, and supported legislation aimed at preventing children from attending drag shows.
Tourism is a major export in Florida, as one of the most popular destinations in the United States. In 2023, almost 141 million tourists visited the state, bringing in over $102 billion to Florida’s economy. Despite the LGBTQ fury, DeSantis declared on 15 August that Florida’s tourism figures for Q2 of 2024 were at a record high. Dana Young, Visit Florida’s CEO and president, commented in a follow up press release that the figures were partly due to the state’s policy focus on freedom.
