ORLANDO – Equality Florida has issued a travel advisory to LGBTQ+ people that traveling to the state isn’t safe given the plethora of anti-LGBTQ+ laws. On May 23, 2023, the Human Rights Campaign joined with Equality Florida urging LGBTQ+ people to avoid travel to Florida.

Citing six anti-LGBTQ bills passed and signed by Governor DeSantis, the two groups noted that while not a blanket recommendation against travel nor a call for boycott, the travel advisory outlines the devastating impacts of laws that are hostile to the LGBTQ community.

As Pride month gets underway Thursday, an annual event that is celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year and draws tens of thousands of LGBTQ+ people to Walt Disney World and the Disney resort areas near Orlando, is slated to commence over the next four day period.

Wearing red shirts to identify themselves, participants in the unofficial Disney Gay Days celebration gather for parties, meet-ups, and enjoying a Disney holiday. In an interview with the Associated Press, Joseph Clark, CEO of Gay Days Inc., said that he is hoping that this year can see upwards of 150,000 LGBTQ+ people descending on Central Florida to mark the start of Pride season.

In addition to Disney, the LGBTQ+ folks will also be visiting the neighboring amusement parks of Universal Studios and SeaWorld.

Pride celebrations this year in Florida have taken on a different tone, St. Cloud organizers of the ‘PRIDE in St. Cloud’ scheduled for June 10 cancelled the event joining a growing list of Pride events being cancelled as a “climate of fear” has overtaken the state in the wake of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ extreme new anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast notified the greater Treasure Coast community that the Pride parade was cancelled and that Pridefest will only be accessible to residents 21-years-old or older.

The Wilton Manors City Commission as well as the city’s mayor voted to amending the permit for Stonewall Pride Inc. to force compliance of a new state law that expands the definition of “live adult entertainment” to include drag entertainment.

Brandon Wolf, the Press Secretary for the largest state-wide LGBTQ+ equality and human rights advocacy group Equality Florida, in a text with the Blade noted: “These are the intended chilling effects of DeSantis’ slate of hate legislation. Just as the Don’t Say LGBTQ law didn’t direct school districts to rip down rainbow stickers, this bill does not ban drag or pride. But it uses vague language and threats to induce self-censorship.”

“We continue to be that blue speck in a sea of red, but ultimately laws are laws, and that is the interesting situation we are in,” Joseph Clark, the CEO of Gay Days, told Deadline, adding that many folks have reached out to ask whether it’s safe to visit Florida.

In a Facebook post earlier this week, GayDays^® announce the cancellation and “reimagining” of Taste of GayDays® as “due to challenges caused by the current political climate in Florida which recently caused concerns for a large group of our restaurant partners.”

“UPDATE: We’re deeply sorry to announce the cancellation and “reimagining” of Taste of GayDays® due to challenges caused by the current political climate in Florida which recently caused concerns for a large group of our restaurant partners. Because of these circumstances, and though we adamantly tried to recruit additional vendors, it became clear that we would be unable to provide the exceptional experience that our guests have come to expect at the Taste of GayDays® Event.

But FEAR NOT! We’ve planned something special for you all. Join us for the FREE GayDays Orlando 2023 “Taste of GayDays® Entertainment Preview Show” at 6pm on Thursday, June 1! This new event aims to give a preview of several other special events during GayDays® Orlando including performances by some of our Miss GayDays® Pageant competitors, introductions and meet & greets with Mr. GayDays® Leather Competitors and more. Please know – we are committed to delivering extraordinary experiences at GayDays® Orlando.

As we are days away from the start of GayDays Orlando 2023 this was not an announcement we had expected to have to make. We will not let this deter us! We are determined to work towards changing the mindset of people and ensure that future events uphold the high standards that are synonymous with GayDays®. It is because of you, that together, we’ll make a difference,” the group wrote.

GayDays^® at Area Theme Parks | #RedShirtDays schedule linked here: (Link)

By Stephanie Colombini, WUSF | SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Josie had put off packing long enough. The high school sophomore in St. Augustine, Florida, sat on her bed while her mom, Sarah, pulled clothes from her closet.

It held a trove of good memories — like the red dress Josie wore to the winter homecoming dance and a pink cover-up she sported at a friend’s pool party. Good times like these have felt scarce lately. Josie, who’s transgender, no longer feels welcome in Florida.

Her family requested they be identified by their first names only, fearing retaliation in a state where Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and other officials have proposed, politicized, and passed policies in health care and education that limit identity expression, access to certain school activities, and accommodations for trans people.

The ACLU is tracking bills it calls an “attack on LGBTQ rights, especially transgender youth.” State legislation has forced some residents like Josie to rethink where they want to call home.

Josie moved more than a thousand miles from St. Augustine — and her parents — to start a new life in Rhode Island and stay with her aunt and uncle, who live outside Providence.

Preparing her for the move, Josie’s mom held up outfits and asked, “Staying or going?”

The formal dress could stay behind. Cardigans and overalls went in the suitcase. At one point, the family dog, Reesie, crawled past the luggage to snuggle up to Josie.

“She has a sense when I’m sad, and just comes running in,” said Josie, 16.

Moving to Rhode Island had been Plan B for some time, but Josie said she never thought it would happen. Much has changed in the past year.

Florida is one of more than a dozen states that have passed bans on gender-affirming medical treatments for minors, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and certain surgeries.

Florida’s medical boards began debating those bans last summer. For months, Josie was terrified she would lose access to hormones she takes to help her body align with her identity.

Board members argued gender-affirming treatments were “experimental” and, in March, barred doctors from prescribing them to minors. They allowed children who had already started care to continue. But Josie didn’t trust that her access would last.

This spring, the legislature considered forcing all trans youth to stop treatment by Dec. 31, part of a bill to bolster restrictions on transgender care.

“I thought that they would realize what they’ve done wrong and repeal some things,” Josie said. “But they just kept going. It just became, like, too real, too fast.”

Lawmakers ended up stripping that provision just before the session ended this month, allowing young people like Josie to stay in treatment.

But she had already made her decision to move out of state. School has been challenging at times since Josie came out as trans in eighth grade. Some childhood friends rejected her.

Josie wanted to play on the girls tennis team, but Florida law bans trans girls and women from competing on school teams meant for athletes assigned female at birth.

She said living in Florida was also especially painful after the state passed the Parental Rights in Education law, which “prohibits classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in certain grade levels.” Critics call it the “Don’t Say Gay” law and said it has had a chilling effect on some teachers. Josie noticed stickers signifying that areas were “safe spaces” for LGBTQ+ people had been taken down at school.

“Which is just ridiculous, like you want your students to be comfortable and safe,” she said.

The new laws and anti-trans rhetoric are hurting kids across Florida, said Jennifer Evans, a clinical psychologist at the University of Florida’s Youth Gender Program in Gainesville.

“I’m seeing more anxiety, more depression,” Evans said. “Things I hear patients say are, ‘The government doesn’t want me to exist.’ They don’t feel safe.”

States are pushing measures on all sorts of gender-related issues — not just health care, but what schools can teach or which bathrooms people can use.

Bills don’t have to pass to cause harm, said Evans, who is queer.

“It’s a lot to feel like enough people in this country don’t agree with your existence — which actually isn’t affecting them — that people want to shut down other people’s access to living complete and affirmed lives,” she said. “It’s painful to see that.”

Four families who sought care at Evans’ clinic have already left Florida, she said, while another 10 plan to move this year. Some older teens she treats also want to get out when they turn 18.

But moving isn’t easy for many families.

“Just financially, it’s difficult to uproot what we’ve set up,” Josie’s dad, Eric, said.

They’ve owned their home in St. Augustine for a long time. Eric recently started a new job. Josie’s mom, Sarah, works at a private college that offers a benefit that allows Josie and her older sister to get reduced tuition at some colleges around the country.

So her parents decided that, at least for now, Josie would go live with her aunt and uncle and they would stay behind.

The choice was devastating.

“It was just terror in my heart, like you could just feel that cold burst in my chest just going all throughout my body,” said Sarah. “Josie is part of everything I do.”

Josie will finish her sophomore year in Rhode Island before returning to St. Augustine for summer break. Her family sees it as a trial run for what could be years of separation.

One night before Josie left, she invited friends over for a going-away party. The teens played a dance video game, laughing as they performed a hip-hop routine.

Sarah brought out a Black Forest cake. “We love you Josie” was piped in frosting along the platter, framed by two hearts.

It was a simple but powerful send-off from the support system Josie has relied on in Florida. A few days later, she and her mom flew north to get Josie settled. Leaving her daughter in Rhode Island was “agony,” Sarah said.

“I was a mess,” she said. “I cried the whole way to the airport. I just felt I was going the wrong way.”

Sarah is still adjusting to life without Josie at home, but they talk every day. And Josie is getting used to her new environment. Her aunt and uncle have been great, she said, and she’s making friends at school.

Her new school is a little smaller than her old one and in a community that feels more liberal-minded, the family said. Josie said she loves seeing pride flags in the halls and plans to join the Gender and Sexuality Alliance Club. It all feels like a “bombardment of support.”

“It was just, like, such a shock to me — like, not a bad shock, but, like, just shocked that this is how schools can be,” Josie said. “It’s just that Florida’s choosing not to be like that.”

DeSantis’ office did not respond to several requests for comment to address concerns of families like Josie’s.

Since Josie moved to Rhode Island in April, DeSantis has signed four bills that would curb health care and gender expression of trans people.

Josie’s parents said they’ll keep their pride flag waving in the front yard and advocate for equality while she’s away.

Josie said she thinks about the trans kids who can’t leave and urged them not to give up hope. But right now, she needs to move on.

******************************************************************************************

This article is from a partnership that includes WUSF, NPR, and KFF Health News. It can be republished for free.

SAINT CLOUD, Fla. – The organizers of the upcoming ‘PRIDE in St. Cloud’ scheduled for June 10 cancelled the event on Friday.

In a Facebook post and in social media, a spokesperson for Bozanich Photography Collaborative the primary organization wrote: “This decision was not made lightly. We have been working hard to plan this event for months, and we were excited to celebrate our community with you. However, we have recently become aware of a number of factors that make it unsafe to hold this event at this time”

On Thursday, Orlando media outlets reported on a traffic sign in suburban Lake Nona, located 12 miles north of St. Cloud, at Lake Nona Boulevard and Nemours Parkway, had its traffic message altered to flash the message “KILL ALL GAYS” in the pre-dawn hours on Wednesday.

Wednesday was the annual observance of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. Orlando police were alerted and reported that the sign “appeared to be tampered with,” according to reporting from the Orlando Sentinel. 

Alright, this got me. I’m sitting in my bedroom at 2 AM, when I have an exam in the morning, bawling my eyes out. What have we become? This is not the Florida that I know. pic.twitter.com/uZ2aAWTetD

— Jack Petocz 🏳️‍🌈 (@Jack_Petocz) May 18, 2023

The Bozanich Photography Collaborative also noted in its announcement: “We have made the difficult decision to cancel the upcoming PRIDE in St. Cloud event scheduled for June 10. As you know, Florida has recently passed a number of laws that target the LGBTQIA+ community. These laws have created a climate of fear and hostility for LGBTQIA+ people in Florida. We believe that holding an LGBTQIA+ event in this environment would put our community at risk.

We hope that you understand our decision. We will continue to work to create a safe and welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ people in Florida. All refunds will be processed and returned to all vendors, sponsors, and ticket holders as soon as possible.”

Kristina Bozanich, group’s spokesperson, in a statement issued regarding cancellation of the St. Cloud Pride, specified the reasons which included:

There were a number of aspects: 1) our drag queens no longer felt safe in general to perform and so we lost our headlining entertainment late last night, 2) an anti-gay event happened in Lake Nona (link), 3) with complete lack of support, rough political climate, and not enough funds to hire enough private security for safety concerns, it ultimately led in canceling the event. I did have a city council member reach out to me today that I will hopefully be speaking with soon… hopefully we can make progress to move forward again. We thank you for being someone that would have supported this event!

St. Cloud now joins a growing list of Pride events being cancelled as a “climate of fear” has overtaken the state in the wake of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ extreme new anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

Pride event in St. Cloud canceled after DeSantis signs ‘Protection of Children Act’ into law:

Related:

Another Florida Pride boots drag from parade

Pride parade in Florida cancelled, Pridefest becomes 21+ only

Tampa Pride axes “Pride on the River” after DeSantis signed bill

TAMPA – In an announcement Thursday, Tampa Pride which produces the popular family-oriented “Pride on the River” event held every September, said that the group was canceling the event after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 1438, which holds businesses accountable ”if the establishment admits a child to an adult live performance.”

“In the end, we didn’t want to take any chances,” said Carrie West, president of Tampa Pride told the Tampa Bay Times.

Last year’s Pride on the River on Sept. 24 included events such as a diversity boat parade, fireworks extravaganza, drag brunches and live performances the paper reported Thursday.

“It was a great opportunity for people of all ages,” West said, noting that the event’s Riverside Festival included family-friendly activities like balloon animals and face painting.

Tampa Pride’s parade in March held all drag performances in a fenced-off courtyard at the Cuban Club limited to those over age 18. For Pride on the River, organizers looked at creating a similar adult-only area at Armature Works, but were not able to find a location that could be fenced off.

“We just said, you know what, we are afraid if we did go through with this (DeSantis) would come in with his Gestapo… not Tampa Police, because we’re working with them, but maybe another group, and they’d all just pull the plug on it,” West said.

Tampa Pride has canceled its “Pride on the River” event after Gov. DeSantis signed a bill aimed at businesses that hold drag shows.

“In the end, we didn’t want to take any chances,” said the event's president. https://t.co/zz1mrp3vXM

— Tampa Bay Times (@TB_Times) May 18, 2023

Appearing before a cheering crowd at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa Wednesday, DeSantis signed legislation that bans gender-affirming care for minors, restricts pronoun use in schools and forces people to use the bathroom corresponding with their “assigned at birth” sex on the globally recognized International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, (IDAHOBIT).

“DeSantis has just signed into law the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ bills in one legislative session in the state’s history,” said Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director of Equality Florida. “This is an all out attack on freedom. Free states don’t strip parents of the right to make healthcare decisions for their children. Free states don’t ban books, censor curriculum, or muzzle free speech. DeSantis doesn’t see freedom as a value worth defending, he sees it as a campaign slogan in his bid for the White House. And he is setting freedom — and Florida’s reputation — ablaze in his desperation to win the GOP nomination. The nation should be on high alert. We are all Floridians as DeSantis seeks to export this blueprint of authoritarianism to the rest of the country.

With this announcement, Tampa Pride becomes yet another Pride to cancel all or part of a program due to the anti-LGBTQ attacks by Florida’s governor and the state officials.

Related:

Another Florida Pride boots drag from parade

TAMPA, Fla. – Appearing before a cheering crowd at Cambridge Christian School in Tampa Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed legislation that bans gender-affirming care for minors, restricts pronoun use in schools and forces people to use the bathroom corresponding with their “assigned at birth” sex on the globally recognized International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia, (IDAHOBIT).

Observed annually on May 17, IDAHOBIT aims to coordinate international events that raise awareness of LGBT rights violations and stimulate interest in LGBT rights work worldwide.

“DeSantis has just signed into law the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ bills in one legislative session in the state’s history,” said Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director of Equality Florida. “This is an all out attack on freedom. Free states don’t strip parents of the right to make healthcare decisions for their children. Free states don’t ban books, censor curriculum, or muzzle free speech. DeSantis doesn’t see freedom as a value worth defending, he sees it as a campaign slogan in his bid for the White House. And he is setting freedom — and Florida’s reputation — ablaze in his desperation to win the GOP nomination. The nation should be on high alert. We are all Floridians as DeSantis seeks to export this blueprint of authoritarianism to the rest of the country.”

Flagler-Palm Coast High School Class of 2023 graduate Jack Petocz, who led statewide student walkouts over the first ‘Don’t Say Gay law tweeted:

Oh, and to top it off, he’s signed a bill that targets the art form of drag. 😒

— Jack Petocz 🏳️‍🌈 (@Jack_Petocz) May 17, 2023

Tampa’s ABC affiliate reported:

While at a non-denominational Christian private school in Tampa, DeSantis stood on a stage behind a “Let Kids Be Kids” sign to say that a “rogue element of the medical establishment” was engaging in “basically the mutilation of minors.”  DeSantis also signed a bill into law that he described as an extension of the Parental Rights in Education bill, which critics nationwide have consistently referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay Bill” and an attack on the LGBTQ community.

DeSantis tweeted:

Florida students and teachers will no longer have to “declare” their pronouns in school or be forced to use pronouns not based on biological sex.

Our teachers will focus on what matters — reading, writing, and arithmetic. pic.twitter.com/XviQB23lLF

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 17, 2023

The effective dates of these laws are as follows:

• HB1521 – Bathroom Ban – Effective July 1, 2023
• HB1069 – Don’t Say Gay Expansion – Effective July 1, 2023
• SB254 – Trans Youth Ban, Adult 80% Care Ban – Effective Immediately
• SB1438 – Obscenity Law Targeting Drag – Effective Immediately

WILTON MANORS, Fl. – During a meeting of the City Commission this past Thursday, May 11, commissioners as well as the city’s mayor voted to amending the permit for Stonewall Pride Inc. to force compliance of a new state law that expands the definition of “live adult entertainment” to include drag entertainment that is awaiting Governor Ron DeSantis’ signature.

LGBTQ Media outlet South Florida Gay News reported that the new permit language reads: “Organization responsibilities to include language regarding a possible new state law pursuant to Senate Bill 1438 and House Bill 1423. These bills prohibit performances in violation of section 827.11. Florida Statutes.”

The law itself does not specifically mention drag shows, but it authorizes state government officials within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to suspend or revoke the liquor license of any establishment that admits minors to a live, adult performance. A person who admits a child to such a show would face a first-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to $1,000 in fines and up to a year in prison.

“We may be constrained by the narrowest interpretation of the law today but that does not dissuade us from our long-term fight against injustice against our community,” Jeff Stirling, CEO of Stonewall Pride Inc., told SFGN exclusively.

Prior to Thursday’s vote, Wilton Manors Mayor Scott Newton said people marginalized by the law are still welcome to be part of the event. “We’re proud to have drag queens and the transgender community come and walk and ride in floats down Wilton Drive. And that’s not going to change, not on our watch.”

During the contentious debate over the bill prior to its Senate passage, telling her colleagues that drag is a “form of art,” Senator Lori Berman (D-Palm Beach) stated that the law puts “Targets on the backs off queer Floridians,” and added, “This legislation targets queer artistry. It targets the freedom of expression.”

Opponents claim that this law is to protect children. “Let kids be kids,” Rep. Doug Bankson, R-Apopka, said during the House debate on the bill. “Protect them from losing their innocence.” Anti-LGBTQ Christian Family Coalition spokesperson Anthony Verdugo said “There’s a problem in this state when we have private establishments that feature drag brunches with children. There was a video that was posted on Facebook went viral showing a 3-year-old that was accompanied by a performer that looked more like a stripper. That’s inappropriate.” 

At issue with parade organizers and others in Pride groups across the state is whether the law would actually be applicable to parades. The organizers and group that operates the Treasure Coast Pridefest in Port St. Lucie announced last month that Pridefest will only be accessible to residents 21-years-old or older.

The announcement also notified the greater Treasure Coast community that the Pride parade was cancelled. In a statement the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast said:

“As all of you know, the political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community. After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event. The city has decided that with the likelihood that the Governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change. We are obviously upset and dishearten that it has come to this. We also regret to announce that we will have to cancel our plans to bring back our beloved parade.”

SFGN reported that before the vote, more than a dozen people got up to speak against the law and the city’s acquiescence. Wilton Manors City Commissions’ meeting spoke up against banning drag from the parade:

“The laws are just unjust,” said one speaker representing Georgie’s Alibi Monkey Bar. “We are entertainers. We are emcees. We are comedians in our culture, not criminals.”

Coco Lords sat near the front in full regalia representing the drag community.  

“I’m here to make sure we are heard and are seen,” she said. “To show that we are one community and we have to represent each other and stand up for each other.”

Michael Rajner, chair of Broward County’s Human Rights Board, said, “We are not safe in Florida, but we stay here. Some of us are going to stay here and fight. We hope we have enough Democrats that are registered that will vote and we can start stemming that tide.”

Brandon Wolf, the Press Secretary for the largest state-wide LGBTQ+ equality and human rights advocacy group Equality Florida, in a text with the Blade noted: “These are the intended chilling effects of DeSantis’ slate of hate legislation. Just as the Don’t Say LGBTQ law didn’t direct school districts to rip down rainbow stickers, this bill does not ban drag or pride. But it uses vague language and threats to induce self-censorship.”

The ACLU of Florida condemned the passage of Senate Bill 1438 (SB 1438) and its companion bill, House Bill 1423. Kara Gross, ACLU of Florida’s legislative director and senior policy counsel, responded in a statement:

“Parents, not politicians, have the right to decide how to raise their children and what they are allowed to view. This harmful bill effectively revokes the rights of parents to determine what content is appropriate for their own families, even their teenagers. As if book bans and curriculum censorship weren’t enough, the Florida Legislature is now imposing its views on parents and families at the cost of LGBTQ+ people.

“Make no mistake: SB 1438 is a blatant attempt to erase drag performers and silence the LGBTQ+ community.

“The unclear and vaguely worded bill will impact businesses and venues that host plays, musical performances, art exhibits, and other forms of expression that the state may subjectively deem inappropriate. Will parents be able to take their families to the opera if there are singers performing in roles that require cross-dressing? What about Shakespeare performances? Furthermore, all it would take is a teen with a fake ID for a business owner to lose everything. We have grave concerns that businesses may end up self-censoring rather than running afoul of the law and risk losing their license or becoming entangled with the criminal legal system.

“With this bill, Gov. DeSantis and certain politicians are imposing their personal beliefs on Floridians by punishing private businesses that support the LGBTQ+ community. The Governor likes to tout that he is ‘pro-businesses,’ but this bill is anything but that. This is an extreme governmental overreach of power. This is not democracy. This is not freedom.”

Wilton Manors Changes Stonewall Festival Permit To Comply With Controversial New Law:

ORLANDO — A celebration of trans joy nearly turned to trans misery because of a popular supermarket’s steadfast adherence to a corporate policy on what can’t be written on a custom cake. 

In this case, it was the word “trans,” as first reported by Watermark. 

Last month, Yasmin Flasterstein and Dandelion Hill of Central Florida visited a Publix in the Colonialtown neighborhood of Orlando — known to locals as “the gay Publix” because of the large population of LGBTQ+ people who shop there — to buy flowers and a cake for their event. 

The “Spread Trans Joy” celebration on April 26 at the Mexican Consulate was being hosted by the group they co-founded, Peer Support Space. Flasterstein, who is the group’s executive director, asked the bakery associate to write, “Trans people deserve joy,” on their sheet cake. 

As the Los Angeles Blade has reported, given the avalanche of anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and policies advancing in the Sunshine State, that message and the celebration were sorely needed. 

Flasterstein told Orlando Weekly the man behind the bakery counter seemed confused, so she spelled the word “trans” out for him, thinking perhaps he thought she said “trains.” She then went off to get flowers, and when she returned, she found Hill, who identifies as trans nonbinary, in tears. 

Both the associate and his manager said they couldn’t take a position either way on the issue, citing Publix’s corporate policy, which they noted also prevented them from writing “Black Lives Matter” on cakes.

“It was taking a stance, and that they weren’t allowed to take a stance on stuff like that,” Flasterstein told the news site.

The bakery manager offered a compromise: A cake with the words “People deserve joy,” leaving extra room at the top for them to write the word “Trans” at the top with icing the store would provide for free. 

According to their post on Facebook, the trans joy event was a success, despite the cake incident, and they chose to not spoil the celebration by telling the story behind the cake. However, nearly a week later, Flasterstein decided the time had come to share their negative experience on social media. 

“It was a slap in the face of the reality of the state of the world on a day where a joyful event ALMOST let me have a break from all that. We very politely pleaded, literal tears in our eyes, to please write the message. They refused,” she wrote.

Members of Orlando’s LGBTQ+ community filled the post with comments and it was shared so widely, it got the attention of Publix’s social media team.

A public relations representative reached out to Flasterstein and blamed the situation not on its policy but on its staff at the Colonialtown store.

“We are sorry that our associates did not handle your request appropriately,” someone at the grocery chain wrote. “Please message us for more details, and we will gladly make the cake.”

Publix’s PR flack offered another apology in an email, as well as an explanation of the company’s policy on what bakeries can write on cakes. Flasterstein shared it with The Washington Post:

“Our policy indicates that our associates may write statements that are not copyrighted or trademarked, support a charitable cause, are factual and considered to have a positive connotation. As we indicated in our Facebook conversation, our associates should have fulfilled your request.”

That wasn’t enough for Flasterstein, who told the Post she’s asked the company via email why multiple people at the store had such a misunderstanding. She told Publix she and Hill are not satisfied with its response and wants Publix to take responsibility and apologize, rather than simply pass it off as a slip-up by employees. 

“We’d like to see more empathy for our transgender colleague who faced the brunt of this incident and broke down in sobs in front of other shoppers,” Flasterstein wrote in an email to Publix. “Dandelion is owed a direct apology, our community is owed an apology.”

And what, Flasterstein asks, will be done to prevent this from happening to another customer? “This isn’t about trying to embarrass a company or put them on blast,” she told the Post. “I’d like for something good to come of this. The door is open.”

Publix issued a statement to The Post: “We will never knowingly disappoint our customers,” the statement read. “Once alerted to the situation, we apologized to the customer and offered to make it right by remaking the cake as requested.”

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida House passed SB 1580 (HB 1403) the so-called “Protections of Medical Conscience” on Tuesday sending the measure to Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature. The bill allows healthcare providers and insurers to deny a patient care on the basis of religious, moral or ethical beliefs.

LGBTQ+ advocacy and civil rights groups say that it creates a license to discriminate by allowing healthcare providers and insurers the right to deny medical services to patients on the basis of moral, religious, and ethical beliefs.

Employers would be prohibited from punishing healthcare workers who cite a “conscience-based objection” in refusing to treat a patient. The law would be enforced by the Florida Attorney General’s office, which could fine violators and seek injunctions to demand compliance. 

Florida Politics reported that a number of Democratic lawmakers who spoke against the bill on final passage echoed those concerns.

“I’m old enough, I am Black enough, and I’m queer enough, and I’m woman enough to know that the impact of the bill — and I would argue the very intent of this bill — is to discriminate against folks,” said Democratic Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby.

The ACLU of Florida’s senior policy counsel, Kara Gross, in an interview with the Miami New Times, cautioned the bill’s language could be used to deny essential medical services. She also warns that it will disproportionately affect LGBTQ people, minorities, and other marginalized communities who could be denied service on a whim.

“So what if there’s a healthcare provider that thinks that it’s unethical to bring a child into the world given overpopulation and climate change? Can that healthcare provider refuse to provide prenatal care to the pregnant person? Under this bill, yes, they can. Can they refuse to assist in labor and delivery? Apparently, under this bill, they can if they have a moral or ethical opposition to it,” Gross said.

The bill’s sponsor, Senator Jay Trumbull, who represents Panama City and several counties in the Panhandle, alleges that a provision is included to ensure the law will not be used to deny emergency medical services. He and other Republicans insist it will protect medical workers who want to opt out of participating in abortions or transgender care.

PORT ST. LUCIE – The organizers and group that operates the LGBTQ+ Pridefest and the Pride parade announced Wednesday that in anticipation of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signing Senate Bill 1438 (SB 1438), which effectively that grants state agencies the power to target LGBTQ+ friendly businesses and events, Pridefest will only be accessible to residents 21-years-old or older.

The announcement also notified the greater Treasure Coast community that the Pride parade was cancelled. In a statement the Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast said:

“As all of you know, the political climate that we are currently in has us all very concerned for our community. After multiple meetings with city officials, it is with a heavy heart that Pride Alliance of the Treasure Coast has to announce that this weekend’s Pridefest will now be a 21 and older event. The city has decided that with the likelihood that the Governor will sign the latest bill into effect this evening, that we will need to be on the side of caution and has required us to make this necessary change. We are obviously upset and dishearten that it has come to this. We also regret to announce that we will have to cancel our plans to bring back our beloved parade.

We hope that everyone understands that this is definitely not what we wanted at all and are working with the city to assure our safety as well as produce a positive event. We have held off as long as we could in making this announcement as we were hoping it would not have to be made. We hope that everyone still supports out community and attends this event! We will be making an announcement in the near future about a family friendly Party in the Park where our youth can celebrate who they are as well in conjunction with the Sanctuary of the Treasure Coast.”

Out former state representative Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-District 49), who is currently running for a state Senate seat to represent the Orlando area, tweeted: “SB 1438 hasn’t even been signed into law, yet city officials are CANCELING pride parades + drag performances. The bill DOES NOT ban drag or pride. But it relies on vague language and harsh penalties to instill fear that inevitably leads to self-censorship– that was their goal.”

Brandon Wolf, the Press Secretary for the largest state-wide LGBTQ+ equality and human rights advocacy group Equality Florida, in a text with the Blade noted: “These are the intended chilling effects of DeSantis’ slate of hate legislation. Just as the Don’t Say LGBTQ law didn’t direct school districts to rip down rainbow stickers, this bill does not ban drag or pride. But it uses vague language and threats to induce self-censorship.”

SB 1438 has not yet been signed into law. But its bigoted effects are already being felt.

Our resistance is needed now more than ever. Our visibility is needed. Drag art is needed. PRIDE is needed.

It's time to raise our flags higher than ever before.

— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) April 20, 2023

Smith in a follow-up tweet urged; “Now is the time for our community and our allies to STAND STRONG, to proudly carry on with pride celebrations and drag performances, and join us in the fight against our state’s all-out assaults on our democracy and our freedom.”

The ACLU of Florida condemned the passage of Senate Bill 1438 (SB 1438) and its companion bill, House Bill 1423. Kara Gross, ACLU of Florida’s legislative director and senior policy counsel, responded to in a statement:

“Parents, not politicians, have the right to decide how to raise their children and what they are allowed to view. This harmful bill effectively revokes the rights of parents to determine what content is appropriate for their own families, even their teenagers. As if book bans and curriculum censorship weren’t enough, the Florida Legislature is now imposing its views on parents and families at the cost of LGBTQ+ people.

“Make no mistake: SB 1438 is a blatant attempt to erase drag performers and silence the LGBTQ+ community.

“The unclear and vaguely worded bill will impact businesses and venues that host plays, musical performances, art exhibits, and other forms of expression that the state may subjectively deem inappropriate. Will parents be able to take their families to the opera if there are singers performing in roles that require cross-dressing? What about Shakespeare performances? Furthermore, all it would take is a teen with a fake ID for a business owner to lose everything. We have grave concerns that businesses may end up self-censoring rather than running afoul of the law and risk losing their license or becoming entangled with the criminal legal system.

“With this bill, Gov. DeSantis and certain politicians are imposing their personal beliefs on Floridians by punishing private businesses that support the LGBTQ+ community. The Governor likes to tout that he is ‘pro-businesses,’ but this bill is anything but that. This is an extreme governmental overreach of power. This is not democracy. This is not freedom.”

Treasure Coast Pridefest cancels parade, makes event 21+ ahead of expected Florida legislation:

TALLAHASSEE – Florida’s Board of Education voted Wednesday to implement a rule that expands the state’s “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” law to now prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity through 12th grade in the state’s public schools.

The Board of Education’s rule change, which does not require legislative approval, will ban lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity from fourth to twelfth grade unless required by state standards or as part of a reproductive health course that parents can opt students out of.

Today’s vote by the Board of Education was put forth by the state Education Department, both of which are controlled by appointees of Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis who has publicly stated his opposition to LGBTQ+ equality and civil rights. The rule goes into effect in 34 days, according to the Florida Department of Education.

LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and student activist leaders across the state spoke out including Jack Petocz, a Senior at Flagler-Palm Coast High School who had organized and led the statewide protests last Spring in opposition to the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

Petocz tweeted defiantly: “This was NEVER about protecting your children. It’s all an elaborate plan to ERASE people like me from existence. You won’t fucking win.” 

BREAKING: the Florida Board of Education has just voted to EXPAND Don’t Say Gay’s restrictions to 12th grade.

This was NEVER about protecting your children. It’s all an elaborate plan to ERASE people like me from existence.

You won’t fucking win.

— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) April 19, 2023

Petocz then noted:

As legislators try to erase queer people from public schools, a REMINDER that youth will never comply. We will never accept a world that deems bigotry the status quo and censors our classmates.

They are fucking around, and they’re gonna find out one day soon. pic.twitter.com/OTJ8HHwMmw

— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) April 19, 2023

Petocz was also trolled on his Twitter account by a far-right participant of the January 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol insurrection who homophobically attacked him:

STOP 💀

The idiot who stole Nancy Pelosi’s lectern on January 6th just quote tweeted me with such homophobic BS.

Trumpies never fail to surprise me 🤷‍♀️ pic.twitter.com/EugtNWLl4X

— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) April 19, 2023

Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director for the state’s largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group, Equality Florida, released the following statement:

“Let’s put it plainly: this is part of the Governor’s assault on freedom. Free states do not ban books. Free states do not censor entire communities out of the classroom. Free states do not wage war on LGBTQ+ people to score cheap political points for a man desperate to be President. This policy will escalate the government censorship that is sweeping our state, exacerbate our educator exodus, drive hardworking families from Florida, and further stigmatize and isolate a population of young people who need our support now more than ever. Shame on the DeSantis Administration for putting a target on the backs of LGBTQ+ Floridians.”