If you are a regular consumer of news from mainstream outlets, you might have heard Florida is becoming a dangerous place for members of the LGBT community.
With the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law that limits classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation through third grade, and the efforts to limit books with explicit content in them from schools, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is basically a “local” Benito Mussolini.
Even the NAACP says the state is “openly hostile” toward the LGBT community. Meanwhile, a guest on MSNBC said Florida was becoming a “terrorist state.”
Pretty much if you are a member of the LGBT community, and you believe the mainstream media’s narrative about Florida, you should be packing your bags if you haven’t already.
But you might be incredibly surprised if you opened Twitter on Thursday and saw a story from The Associated Press about Florida.
In a tweet, the outlet wrote, “Central Florida is about to become a hub of LGBTQ+ life. That’s because tens of thousands of people are flocking to the area’s theme parks and hotels this week during the decades-long tradition known as Gay Days.”
Central Florida is about to become a hub of LGBTQ+ life. That's because tens of thousands of people are flocking to the area’s theme parks and hotels this week during the decades-long tradition known as Gay Days. https://t.co/98UneK7IIh
— The Associated Press (@AP) June 1, 2023
So wait, you mean to tell us that people can actually say “gay” in Florida and that they are not going to be thrown in jail for being a member of the LGBT community? And that the state is so safe in fact that “tens of thousands” of people are traveling there for “Gay Days”?
Conservative commentator Kimberly Ross shared the story and wrote, “This can’t be right. I was told you can’t say ‘gay’ in Florida.”
This can’t be right. I was told you can’t say “gay” in Florida. https://t.co/dxq5W4GXEq
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) June 1, 2023
Journalist Brendon Leslie asked, “Is it still unsafe for gay people to travel to Florida?”
Hi @equalityfl – is it still unsafe for gay people to travel to Florida?
— Brendon Leslie (@BrendonLeslie) June 1, 2023
Another user chimed in, “Excuse me, but I have been reliably informed by [AP] and the rest of the legacy media that you are not allowed to say that word in Florida. I assume everyone will be locked up. Or, have you all been perhaps lying about that all along?”
Excuse me, but I have been reliably informed by @AP and the rest of the legacy media that you are not allowed to say that word in Florida. I assume everyone will be locked up.
— Grateful Calvin (@shoveitjack) June 1, 2023
Or, have you all been perhaps lying about that all along?
Check out some more reactions below:
https://twitter.com/ZaidJilani/status/1664276777978728464
But I thought it was a hellscape gay people must avoid?!?@HRC y'all are clowns. https://t.co/eTgct1LQ8P
— Brad Polumbo 🇺🇸⚽️🏳️🌈 (@brad_polumbo) June 1, 2023
But on msnbc they said Florida was genociding https://t.co/BHtwfDP9ME
— Seth Mandel (@SethAMandel) June 1, 2023
Almost like the whole “Don’t Say Gay” thing was just a publicity stunt. https://t.co/HPm6rGBVq4
— Jenna Ellis (@realJennaEllis) June 1, 2023
https://t.co/eyaesC7w0q pic.twitter.com/BzER0ZwpMd
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) June 1, 2023
But I thought we couldn’t even say gay here…🙃 https://t.co/gYXkqdeCCS
— Brittany (@thebrittanyjea) June 1, 2023
Of course, you can say the word “gay” in Florida. It was not banned. And trying to limit school-age children’s exposure to explicit content in schools does not make the governor an authoritarian dictator.
The only thing we can conclude from this story is that the media’s narrative about Florida and DeSantis was vastly overblown. Or DeSantis is one of the most incompetent, fascist leaders ever.