Florida celebrated the UN Worldwide May 17 celebration of International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. In Cuba they celebrated with a Conga parade in Havana, US Embassies across the world held receptions, France held an educational conference in Paris and President Biden and the White House discussed today how important standing against hate is for all Americans.
So we are not surprised how Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis chose to celebrate. He held a bill signing today that Equality Florida describes as “the slate of hate.” DeSantis chose to sign House bill 1069 on Don’t Say LGBTQ Expansion, Senate Bill 254 Gender Affirming Care Ban; House Bill 1521, the Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill and House Bill 1423, the Anti-Drag Bills.
The Governor and Tallahassee GOP celebrated homophobia and transphobia with this hateful photo op, Equality Florida held an emergency press conference that was attended by Florida and National media including Queer News Tonight.
Joe Saunders, Senior Political Director of Equality Florida said “This marks the largest slate of anti-LGBTQ bills to be signed in a single legislative session in Florida history.”
In fact, today, Governor DeSantis made history for the largest single day of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation becoming law in a single day in American history.
Saunders said in advance of the Florida Governor’s announcement to run for President “The nation should be on high alert. Today we are all Americans.”
Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith said “Any insult from DeSantis against Equality Florida is a badge of honor. We are the resistance. They are trying to divide the LGBTQ+ community. They will not succeed. We are more united than ever.”
Saunders also made note of the importance in history of May 17 by saying, “Today 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.”
This is how Florida celebrated May 17 and the world’s international day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia, at least in Florida’s capital and Governor’s mansion.
