The Stonewall National Museum and Archives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has canceled its membership with Visit Florida, the state's official tourism marketing corporation. This decision followed the removal of a section on Visit Florida's website that promoted LGBTQ+ tourism, as reported by the Advocate.
In addition to withdrawing from the tourism site, the museum requested a refund of its annual fee of $475, which Visit Florida granted. Robert Kesten, the museum's executive director, expressed that the funds could be better utilized elsewhere, especially for a small nonprofit that receives little in return.
Florida has faced criticism recently for cutting state-funded arts and culture grants and implementing several anti-LGBTQ laws, including the "Don't Say Gay" law, which restricts discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in classrooms. Other measures include bans on gender-affirming care for transgender minors and restrictions on bathroom use and LGBTQ-themed books.
State Senator-elect Carlos Guillermo Smith, an openly gay Democrat, commented that the removal of LGBTQ content from Visit Florida's website reflects Governor Ron DeSantis's stance against welcoming LGBTQ individuals in the state, ultimately harming small businesses that benefit from LGBTQ tourism.
Sayart / Amia Nguyen, amyngwyen13@gmail.com
