Unwelcome to Florida

 Once upon a time, Florida was known as the tourist state, the travel destination du jour for millions of Americans and millions more from around the world.

Those days are gone.

The NAACP has issued a travel advisory to Florida due to the state government's open hostility to teaching black history and eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Other groups who have issued travel advisories include the League of United Latin American Citizens (immigration issues) and the LGBTQ advocacy group Equality Florida  (Don't Say Gay, among other measures).

I caution any friend who wants to move to Florida. I am scared for them and the environment they would live in.

Let's not mince words. Under DeSantis, Florida is a fascist state. His laws are designed to persecute people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, the undocumented (including harassing anyone who might even look like they could be undocumented, and those who dare to teach/preach/blog/communicate anything besides the official DeSantis line.  I wouldn't be surprised if THIS blog was flagged. The only thing that might save me is my traffic and presence is so pitiful it might escape their notice.

Should I advise people who live in Florida but are decent, and caring, to leave? It's a tough call. If there is some chance that people can retake the state, they should stay. But how do you tell somebody subject to villainous persecution that they should stay? I can't in good conscience do that.

But many are not going to be able to leave. Because of work or roots or other reasons, it is not easy to up and leave. We need to defend those people and keep speaking out.

Should we boycott Florida? For the most part, yes. But we need to be selective when we do go there. Definitely go to Disney World if you have it planned - yes, it's got all the flaws of a mega-corporation, but it has also stood up to the bullying of DeSantis.

We sometimes go to Jacksonville. We visit the bookstore Chamblin Bookmine, which is supportive and stands four-square against book bans. 

I think that is what we need. To only visit places and businesses that stand in support of the LGBTQ+ community, people of color, of those of us who are against book bans and restrictions on education.

Anyone who can help me come up with a list of those businesses that are supportive, especially places to eat, please let me know. I will repost everything I can find.

If we go to Florida, let's go to the places that need our support.

But Georgia is no sanctuary state. No, they have not enacted legislation on a level of Florida hate, but that day will come if we're not careful.

IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING where I live in Pierce and adjoining counties. Several large churches have banded together and have chosen to be unchristian in their hateful and bigoted pursuit of eliminating marginalized communities from services at our public libraries. They want to eliminate any symbol of support. They want to remove any books, clubs, mention or acknowledgment, kindness, hope, or love. The bottom line - they don't want them to exist.

It's a fight we'll probably lose due to the weakness of city and county commissioners, bending to the will of the slavering mob.

The foulness of Florida is spreading like a contagious disease.

I pray that this vile disease burns itself out and that the vaccine of truth and love proves stronger than bigotry and hate.  

There is much evil in America, but there is also much good.

Stay strong. Speak up. Pray we see it through.