Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, and St. Petersburg have long been celebrated as premier destinations for LGBTQ+ tourists in Florida. However, in a surprising and controversial move, Florida’s tourism marketing agency has quietly removed the “LGBTQ Travel” section from its official website in recent months.
The LGBTQ+ community feels targeted
Business owners who cater to LGBTQ+ tourists in Florida expressed deep concern on Wednesday, interpreting the website change as part of a broader effort by state officials to marginalize the LGBTQ+ community. Keith Blackburn, President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce, voiced his frustration: “It’s just disgusting to see this. They seem to want to erase us.”
The removal of the LGBTQ+ section was first reported by NBC News, which also noted that while the dedicated section has disappeared, a search query can still pull up some LGBTQ+-friendly listings on the website. However, the omission of a specific section is seen by many as symbolic of the state’s increasingly hostile stance toward the LGBTQ+ community.
Lack of response from state officials
John Lai, Chairman of the board for Visit Florida, did not respond to an email seeking comment on the issue. Similarly, Dana Young, CEO and President of Visit Florida, along with the agency’s public relations director, did not respond to inquiries from the media. Visit Florida operates as a public-private partnership, funded by both the state of Florida and the state’s tourism industry, receiving approximately $50 million annually from tourism and economic development funds.
Tourism’s crucial role in Florida’s economy
Tourism is a vital component of Florida’s economy, with the state welcoming nearly 141 million visitors in 2023. These visitors contributed more than $102 billion to the state’s economy. The LGBTQ+ section that was removed had previously emphasized Florida’s appeal as an inclusive destination:
“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.”
Blackburn highlighted the challenges he now faces in promoting South Florida as a destination for LGBTQ+ tourists amid the growing list of anti-LGBTQ+ policies emerging from Tallahassee. He noted that potential visitors and travel promoters are increasingly hesitant to engage with Florida due to these policies. “It’s difficult when these kinds of stories come out, and the state does these things, and we hear people calling for a boycott,” Blackburn said. “On one level, it’s embarrassing to have to explain why people should come to South Florida and our destination when the state is doing these things.”
Broader concerns and national attention
This development comes on the heels of a travel advisory issued last year by several civil rights groups, warning that policies championed by Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers are “openly hostile toward African Americans, people of colour, and LGBTQ+ individuals.” Despite these challenges, Blackburn urged potential visitors to recognize that many cities in Florida remain inclusive and welcoming, with gay elected officials and LGBTQ+-owned businesses that do not reflect the state government’s stance. “Visitors should also understand that many Florida cities are extremely inclusive,” Blackburn added, emphasizing that the actions of the state government do not represent the entire state.