It’s time to celebrate with a parade, folks! The nong festival is coming up this Sunday, and it’s expected to draw in a whopping 170,000 people to South Florida. That’s right, this is one of the largest LGBTQ festivals in the whole country. So get ready to party like it’s 1999!
Now, normally we’d expect the state’s official tourism marketing body, Visit Florida, to have something to say about this huge event. But nope, they’re as quiet as a mouse on Wednesday. Maybe they’re busy getting their dance moves ready for the parade? Who knows?
Last year, when legislators passed a bill restricting classroom instruction about sexual orientation and gender identity, Visit Florida told The Washington Post that they welcomed the community with open arms. They even said that they considered the LGBTQ community an important market. It’s just a shame they haven’t got anything to say this year, isn’t it?
Oh boy, things have been getting pretty spicy under Governor DeSantis. The state has started investigating drag performances that might be shown to minors. And just when you thought the Magic Kingdom was safe from politics, Walt Disney World has had its special self-governing status stripped away because they, and I quote, are “woke”. And if that wasn’t enough, last November, Florida’s medical boards banned care for transgender minors.
But DeSantis isn’t stopping there, folks. His administration wants to expand the earlier restrictions on education about gender identity to cover all grades through high school. We can only imagine the kind of school reunions they’ll be having in Florida in a few decades’ time…
If you’re thinking of going to Florida, you’d better make a safety plan first. At least, that’s what the Florida Immigrant Coalition is saying. They’re worried about some proposed immigration crackdowns, so they’re urging people to be careful if they decide to visit the state.
Equality Florida has also listed the things that Governor DeSantis has been up to recently. They reckon that he’s making all these extreme policies the centerpiece of his presidential campaign strategy. Wow, it really sounds like he’s going all-out to win that election in 2024, doesn’t it?
And just when you thought things couldn’t get any crazier, lawmakers have approved a bill that would let people carry concealed guns without a permit or proof of training. Yep, you heard that right. That’s got the governor’s support too. And earlier this month, the Florida Senate passed a bill banning abortion after six weeks. Gosh, Florida, you really know how to keep things interesting!
The NAACP Florida State Conference is also getting involved in all this. They’re asking the NAACP board of directors to issue its own travel advisory for the state, all because Florida won’t recognize a new Advanced Placement African American Studies course. DeSantis thinks it’s all a joke, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next.
Well, that’s all the news for now. We hope you’ve enjoyed this rollercoaster ride of a news story. Whatever your thoughts on Florida might be, one thing’s for sure – it’s never boring there!
