LGBTQ Snowbirds Face Dilemma Boycott Florida or Visit For The Sake of Local Queer Businesses

Florida, a longtime winter haven for LGBTQ snowbirds, faces growing tensions as Governor Ron DeSantis’s anti-LGBTQ policies cast a shadow over the Sunshine State. While queer retirees and travelers have historically embraced Florida’s beaches and nightlife, this season comes with hesitation. Recent actions, including the removal of the LGBTQ tourism page from the Visit Florida website, amplify a legacy of exclusion. Ed Salvato, a leader in LGBTQ tourism advocacy noted how anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, combined with attacks on diversity and inclusion, has alienated both visitors and locals. However, despite frustrations, Tony Adams, a former Fort Lauderdale resident, cautioned against abandoning the state entirely, saying,

“If we desert Florida now, we are depriving our LGBTQ+ businesses of the revenue they need to stay alive. The pendulum of acceptance in Florida swings violently, but history shows progress is possible.”

Nadine Smith, executive director of Equality Florida echoed similar thoughts. She noted that the state earns billions from the ‘gay dollar,’ yet it disrespects this significant contributor to its tourism economy. So should queer snowbirds exclude Florida this year? Local queer businesses hope not!