Current Events

 

Source: News Nation

 

Article Title:  Florida LGBTQ, immigrant groups issue travel advisories

Article date: April 19, 2023  Circle One:     Local     State     National     International

• Who was involved? (Identify the people, groups, or organizations) 
• NAACP, Ron DeSantis, The Florida Immigrant Coalition, Florida Legislature, Equality Coalition

• Where did this event happen? (Be specific) 
• Tallahassee, Florida 

• When did this event happen? (Date, month, time frame, and/or year) 
• It has happened throughout early 2023.

• What happened? (Include sequence of events in complete sentences) 
• The Florida Legislature, along with Governor Ron DeSantis, have passed numerous laws involving anti-LGBTQ bills, strict anti-immigration bills, restrictions on abortion, and permit-less carry being allowed throughout the state. Groups such as the NAACP, The Florida Immigrant Coalition, and The Equality Coalition have issued a travel advisory to people outside of the state of Florida saying that the state is no longer safe for protected groups to come and visit. 

• Why is this event relevant? (how does this article connect to the theme you chose from our textbook?) 
• This is relevant because tourism is the top industry here in Florida and has been for many years. Much of the growth that we have seen here in the state has been a result of the economic boom that tourism has brought the state. Also, Florida has a history of discrimination against African Americans and many are concerned that these laws would bring about the treatment many experienced in the 1960’s and earlier. Florida is a state with many immigrants and as we learned in the textbook,  immigrants have made numerous impacts of note in the state. The cigar industry, for instance, was created in the state by Cuban immigrants. Bahamians helped to build and create one of our largest tourist destinations, the Florida Keys. 

• Reflection (for full credit, you must include support with each reflection) 
• I believe that these travel advisories will negatively impact the tourism of the state of Florida. When an extremely large and powerful group such as the NAACP says to not visit Florida for fear of safety, I believe that Black Americans will choose a different travel destination other than Florida. Many members of the LGBTQ community come to Florida to visit, especially the Florida Keys and South Florida. If this advisory is successful, we will also see a significant decrease in tourism in those areas. These will pale in comparison to the economic impact that a decrease on immigration to the state would have. Our state is growing quickly, largely due to immigration, and this would devastate the state if it slows or comes to an abrupt halt.