Latest news with #Don'tSayGay
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Florida ranks at the bottom of LGBTQ+ safety list. What report says makes the state unsafe
Pride Month is officially here; however, many might notice fewer festivities, rainbow-colored merchandise and even less sense of security — especially in Florida. Home security and safety blog released their annual report of the best and worst states for LGBTQ+ safety, noting hate crimes have risen for the fourth year in a row and 71% of LGBTQ+ adults have avoided a public space due to fear of discrimination or violence. Experts ranked the 50 states on a composite safety score comprising a law score and a hate crime score. A 'law score' was calculated based on pro- and anti-equality laws in each state. A 'hate crime score' was also calculated based on an analysis of the incidence of hate crimes against any group falling within the LGBTQ+ umbrella. Florida has dominated headlines over the last few years when it comes to the LGBTQ+ community, from controversial legislation to discourse over pride events. In this year's ranking, Florida has fallen to the bottom of the list, despite being in the 35th slot just two years ago. The Sunshine State placed dead last as America's worst state for LGBTQ+ safety with a score of 35.69 out of 100. "Under Governor Ron DeSantis, the Sunshine State has become increasingly cloudy for the LGBTQ+ community. He's signed laws including a 'Don't Say Gay' initiative to restrict scholastic discussion of sexual orientation (then censured Disney for its opposition to the bill), a limit on access to gender-affirming care, and the criminalization of prohibited bathroom use by transgender citizens," the report states. The report further cites that LGBTQ+ advocates and human rights organizations have previously issued a travel advisory for the state due to legislation. Additionally, Florida has the lowest percentage of hate crime reporting in the country with 44% of law enforcement agencies submitting hate crime data to the FBI in 2023. Out of the 588 anti-LGBTQ bills the American Civil Liberties Union was tracking, seven were in Florida, including: H.B. 731/S.B. 1710 - Died in committee in both the Senate and the House; would have prohibited spending on DEI initiatives and applying for federal health care grants that include DEI. H.B. 1495/S.B. 440 - Never moved past the committee phase in the Senate and was never heard in the House; would have prohibited workplaces from requiring employees to use preferred pronouns. H.B. 1307 - Postponed indefinitely; would revise provisions relating to DOE, FCS institutions, state universities, & K-20 education system. S.B. 100/H.B. 75 - Postponed indefinitely; would have banned Pride flags flying on government buildings. In a 2023 survey, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) found that 80% of transgender or nonbinary Floridians either want to move away or have already made plans to do so. It also highlighted that 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ Floridians share the same sentiments. In their own words, HRC shared quotes from respondents, some writing they felt they were losing their basic rights and ability to exist in public spaces. However, the study also highlighted those who wanted to stay and fight in their home state. It showed that 11.7% LGBTQ+ adults, and 6.5% transgender and non-binary adults, were committed to fighting back against gender affirming care bans, through voting out and speaking out against politicians who enacted these bans. "I spoke on the Capitol steps but this is what we do … we fight, we don't stand down, we stand up because we know the power of staying vigilant," drag queen Latrice Royale told the USA TODAY Florida Network in 2024 when asked in an interview about LGBTQ+ activism in their home state. Florida Louisiana Mississippi Tennesse Utah South Dakota Alabama Kansas Nebraska Georgia For the second year in a row, the tiny New England state earned an A+ for LGBTQ+ safety. "The Ocean State has the nation's most straightforward motto: 'Hope', and supplies that to its LGBTQ+ citizens via various legal protections, progressive healthcare, and vibrant community support," the report detailed. "Rhode Island's score was also boosted by its stellar hate crime reporting participation rate. Ninety-eight percent of law enforcement agencies in the state reported hate crimes to the FBI, more than any other state." It also notes Rhode Island set trends by providing benefits to same-sex partners in 2001, recognizing same-sex civil unions in 2011, and marriages in 2013, two years before the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision. See the top 10 best states for the LGBTQ+ safety: Rhode Island California Delaware Connecticut Nevada New Hampshire Minnesota Virginia Maine Colorado Pride Month 2025 certainly looks different compared to recent years, which is leading some attendees to wonder if it's safe to attend this year. And unfortunately, there's not an exact answer. According to NBC News, severalEuropean countries have issued official cautions for LGBTQ travelers visiting the U.S. and some LGBTQ rights groups have either pulled out of participation or called for a boycott of international Pride events. Despite a slew of anti-legislation across several red states this year alone, several Pride organizers told the Guardian that the show will still go on, especially in light of the political hostility the community is facing. 'It's incredibly rewarding to see tens of thousands of attendees. It's very easy to feel isolated and alone in deep red states like Idaho with people living in relatively isolated areas and incredibly regressive legislatures targeting the LGBTQ community," Donald Williamson, executive director of Idaho's Boise Pride, told the outlet. LGBTQ+ news source Them released a list of safety advice for those heading to Pride events, including: Stay Hydrated And Bring Snacks Have a Group or Buddy to Check In With Practice Drug Safety and Harm Reduction Know Your Protest Safety Basics Understand Active Shooter Danger and Safety Tips Have a Plan In Case You Need to Leave This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Pride Month 2025: Why Florida ranks last for LGBTQ+ people safety
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
These are the safest places in America for gay and transgender people
As Oklahoman legislators push to restrict trans rights and overturn the 2015 Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage, Zane Eaves says his identity as a transgender man has put a target on his back in his home state. One of 18,900 trans adults in Oklahoma, Eaves has received death threats as has his wife of 10 years and their two children. 'All the hatred and political stuff going on' are driving this Oklahoma lifer from the place he was born and raised, Eaves, 35, said. He has only crossed the state line three times in his life, but in recent weeks, he made the difficult decision to move his family to North Carolina to be closer to friends and allies. 'I am just trying to stay alive and keep my marriage,' Eaves said. Oklahoma ranks 44th in the nation on a list released Monday of the most and least welcoming states for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Americans. More and more, the question of where LGBTQ+ people feel safe is one of blue vs. red, according to advocacy group Out Leadership. LGBTQ+ equality fell across the board for the third straight year, according to Out Leadership's State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index shared exclusively with USA TODAY. But the sharpest declines came in Republican-led states. While progressive strongholds championed supportive policies and protections, conservative states elected a slate of leaders who openly oppose gay and trans rights and sponsored an unprecedented wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, Out Leadership CEO and founder Todd Sears said. So-called 'Don't Say Gay' bills, religious exemptions and other legislation tanked the rankings of 19 red states in the Out Leadership index, according to Sears. Today, the divide between states that roll out the welcome mat and less hospitable parts of the country is wider than ever, he said. Each year for the last seven, Out Leadership has released the State LGBTQ+ Business Climate Index to gauge the overall climate for gay and transgender people state by state, mapping out where they will face the most and the least discrimination and hardship. Out Leadership's index measures the impact of state government policies and prevalent attitudes about the LGBTQ+ community, weighing factors such as support for young people and families, health access and safety, political and religious attitudes, work environment and employment and nondiscrimination protections. The Northeast had six of the 10 highest-ranked states, while the Southeast had six of the lowest-ranked. Massachusetts, led by the nation's first openly lesbian governor, Democrat Maura Healey and New York, which guaranteed gender-affirming care and LGBTQ+ refugee protections, tied for first place in this year's index, with Connecticut and New Jersey close behind. The least LGBTQ+ friendly state was Arkansas, which ranked last for the third straight year. South Carolina, Louisiana, South Dakota and Alabama also received low scores. The states that had the largest gains in the index were Kentucky and Michigan, which Out Leadership attributed to 'pro-equality' leadership from governors Andy Beshear and Gretchen Whitmer, both Democrats. The steepest declines were in Ohio, Florida and Utah, all led by Republican governors. The Out Leadership index was created as a LGBTQ+ inclusion reference guide for business leaders. But gay and trans people soon began using it to figure out where they should – and should not – live and work, never more so than now as rights rollbacks from the Trump administration and red statehouses hit close to home. Opposition to transgender rights was a central plank in Trump's presidential campaign and since taking office he has signed a series of executive orders recognizing only male and female genders, keeping trans athletes out of women's sports, banning trans people from serving in the military and restricting federal funding for gender-affirming care for trans people under age 19. Even states seen as safer for LGBTQ+ people have been navigating these edicts around trans athletes. Trump threatened to cut federal funding to California if a trans girl competed in a state track and field event held Saturday. AB Hernandez, a junior from Jurupa Valley High School in Riverside County, shared first place in the high jump and triple jump and second in the long jump. She shared the awards podium with her cisgender competitors under a new rule drafted by state athletics officials days before the event to mollify critics. Republican-led states have been in the vanguard of anti-trans legislation, causing greater geographic polarization and prompting fears among LGBTQ+ residents, even those who live in liberal cities. Jordan McGuire, a 27-year-old gay man in North Dakota, said the years he spent living in the Deep South taught him about the repressive discrimination routinely faced by gay and genderqueer people. At the same time, socially progressive cities in conservative states like Fargo and Grand Forks are no longer the safe havens they once were, he said. Now that his fiancee is transitioning to female, the couple is exploring a move to a 'sanctuary' state that will be safer for them. 'It feels like five or 10 years ago, trans people were not under the same microscope they are now and that has definitely influenced our move,' McGuire said. 'Yeah, people were prejudiced but it wasn't a witch hunt. They weren't looking for people in bathrooms and schools. But now things are so polarized.' That rising anxiety was captured in a post-election survey from UCLA's Williams Institute which found that nearly half of transgender people had already fled unsupportive communities and nearly 1 in 4 were considering uprooting their lives. The most frequently cited reasons for wanting to move were concerns about LGBTQ+ rights – 76% – the sociopolitical climate – 71% – anti-trans rhetoric and climate – 60% – and anti-trans laws and policies – 47%. Interest in relocating to friendlier states is even higher today than it was after Trump's reelection, say nonprofit workers who aid trans and gender-diverse people relocate to more liberal states with broader protections. So far in 2025, Rainbow Railroad in Canada has received more than 3,000 requests from LGBTQ+ people living in the United States, up more than 1,000% from the same time last year, according to communications director Timothy Chan. Nearly all requested international relocation support. For now, Rainbow Railroad can't aid Americans with resettlement services because of immigration restrictions, Chan said. TRACTION has heard from a record number of people from states as far away as Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas with many of them reporting being threatened or feeling unsafe in their homes and neighborhoods, said Michael Woodward, the executive director of the trans-led organization in Washington state. Trans and gender-diverse people historically face financial hardship due to systemic oppression and discrimination, and need assistance finding jobs and housing as well as with interstate moving expenses that can run tens of thousands, Woodward said. TRACTION used to get a few applications a week until Trump won a second term. In the two weeks following the election, 'we received as many requests for assistance as we'd received in the entire life of the project thus far,' he said. After the inauguration, TRACTION started getting three to five applications every day. With one employee and a handful of volunteers, his organization is struggling to keep up with demand, Woodward said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: These are the safest states for gay and trans people
Miami Herald
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
As Florida curbs LGBTQ rights, queer teens gather for prom at Miami's Vizcaya Museum
They Cupid Shuffled. They whipped and nae-nae'd. They shook it like a Polaroid picture. But this was not a regular prom: it was an extravaganza on a terrace overlooking Biscayne Bay. On Saturday night, the gardens of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens were taken over by LGBTQ students from around Miami — about 96 in total — for the first prom ever held at the iconic waterfront estate. The theme: 'Into the Garden.' They wore everything from purple corduroy pants and platform sneakers to baby blue ball gowns that matched the evening sky above Biscayne Bay. Many had never seen Vizcaya before. The estate was built in the early 20th century by James Deering. Paul Chalfin, a queer artist, helped build the villa. Chalfin lived with his male partner on a houseboat docked at the property. For Artemis Cruz, 17, who just graduated from José Martí MAST, the night was more than a party. 'I'm pretty excited because it's kind of history,' he said. 'This is the first time I had a big idea and it came to fruition,' said the student, who was one of the students who came up with the idea for the prom. Cruz said he had once gone to a queer prom at a library. 'It was 'eh,'' he said. He skipped his school's prom because he didn't feel comfortable in that environment. Cruz was not the only one who was excited to have prom at such an iconic location. 'I wasn't ready for this much amazement,' said Nicole De Souza, 18, who arrived a bit late, not knowing how beautiful Vizcaya would be. 'It's so pretty! I love it! I wish I wore my actual dress. It's like a dream come true!' De Souza, who just graduated from Pompano Beach High School, wore a floor-length teal sequin gown. But it wasn't enough. She wished she wore the quinceañera-style ball gown she wore to her school's prom. Ludwin Arauz, 18, who just graduated from Felix Varela High School, was close to having gone to high school and never attend prom at all. 'I never cared for it… but, this place is actually insane, I've never seen anything like this.' The 'queer prom,' as students were calling it, was organized by Safe Schools South Florida, a nonprofit founded in 1991 to support gay students. Historically, the organization would provide teacher training's, work with individual schools' Gay-Straight Alliance clubs, and host an annual empowerment day — where students would get a permission slip to leave school and attend a district-wide event with games and motivational speakers. School buses provided by the district would transport them. But now, nearly all of Safe Schools' programming happens outside the school district's purview. Since the passage of Florida's Parental Rights in Education Act — or the 'Don't Say Gay' law — signed by Governor Ron DeSantis in 2022, Miami-Dade schools have largely stepped back from visible support for LGBTQ students. Even a symbolic resolution to recognize LGBTQ History Month was rejected by the school board for the past three years. The state has imposed restrictions on classroom discussions of gender and sexuality, and banned access to gender-affirming healthcare for transgender minors. Yariel Genao, a junior, had planned to arrive in style — but had a mishap. 'So I was in the car, and when I got out, I felt my sole touch the floor — oh no…' His gold heels had broken completely. He entered Vizcaya with bare feet and his shoes in hand. 'I don't know how I am going to tell her,' he said of the friend he borrowed them from. At the green screen photo booth in the plant-filled courtyard, Jessica Lam, a trans woman who 'has been a member of the community before there was a community,' was running the booth. She listed off the backdrop options: 'You can be in outer space!' she said, or, 'You can go to Paris.' The group chose the flaming background. 'Act like we're burning!' said one friend. Lam texted them the photo. As they laughed at the photo, one friend joked, 'Us going to hell after going to queer prom.' Latisha Buffenoir, 18, showed up with a group of 10 friends, all picked up in a black car provided by the event. She wore black pants, dress shoes, and a vest. Her date, Abigail Chico, wore a petticoat, corset, and lingerie top — all in the style of the Gilded Age. Her friend Evelyn Ventura wore a corset her mom got her from Spain. The music was handled by DJ Citizen Jane, an openly gay DJ who kept the dance floor full with a mix of Chappell Roan, Kendrick Lamar, and throwbacks from the 2010s. Although the music was a bit too loud for some students, who wore earphones and earplugs. 'It's loud, but yay gay people!' said Lin Sutton, a home school student who brought a small notepad and was sketching the architecture of the building as they waited for the dinner banquet portion of the event to begin. 'I'm just grateful for this to exist,' said Sutton. At the end of the event, they crowned nine students Kings, Queens and Monarchs, using a sound meter to measure which contestant received the most enthusiastic response. The 'monarch' category was created to provide a category for non-binary students. 'We are not banging our head against the door, we are going to do things without the school boards help,' said Scott Galvin, the executive director and former elected official. 'Yes, it was a heavy financial lift to go to Vizcaya, but I wanted to do it there because other queer proms are at an Elks Lodge or a library. I wanted these kids who are not being celebrated as much right now, to have a first class prom experience.' 'That is pure queer joy,' said Harold Marrero, the chief operating officer for the organization, watching the students dance after they finished their dinner. He added the event was a testament to the fact that 'we are not going to hide, go back in the closet or go underground, and we are going to enjoy the freedoms we have worked so hard to obtain.'
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sponsor of ‘Don't Say Gay' expansion plans to revive bill next year
Rep. Mack Butler, R-Rainbow City, clapping on the floor of the Alabama House of Representatives on May 14, 2025, in the Alabama State House in Montgomery, Alabama. Butler said Thursday he would bring back the Don't Say Gay expansion next year after it did not receive final passage on the last day of session.(Anna Barrett/Alabama Reflector) An Alabama lawmaker plans to bring back a bill next year that would prohibit all discussions of gender identity and sexuality during instructional time in public schools. HB 244 got approval from the House on April 18 and from the Senate Education Policy Committee on May 1. Sen. Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva, chair of that committee, told Butler after the bill was approved that it is unlikely the Senate will pass it because of the timing and said it needed to be in his committee earlier in the year to have a chance of passage; at the time, there were four days left in the session. A Democratic filibuster launched in protest of the House's handling of local bills on the last day of the session doomed Butler's bill and many others. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Butler said he was offended by Chesteen's comment that he should have filed the bill sooner but said both men remedied that after the committee meeting. A message seeking comment from Chesteen was left Thursday afternoon. Butler filed the bill in February, but it did not go before the House Education Policy Committee until April 3, when the committee held a public hearing. The committee did not approve it until the following week. Butler said he asked Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, chair of the committee, for it to be put on the agenda many times earlier in the session. 'I repeatedly asked for it, and I was assured it was coming, it was coming, it was coming,' he said. 'The chair had other things she said she was dealing with, and I think they waited to deal with several controversial bills at one time.' A message seeking comment from Collins was left Thursday afternoon. Butler said next year he plans to have a companion bill in the Senate to improve the bill's chances of passage, 'so we can move on both at the same time, and whoever gets there first wins,' he said. Butler said Sen. Keith Kelley, R-Anniston, was handling the bill in the Senate and plans to ask him to sponsor the Senate version next year. Kelley said in an interview that he and Butler will be meeting soon about companion bills for next session soon. 'There may be some changes to it, a little bit here, a little bit there,' Kelley said. 'We're planning on bringing that back next year.' The law currently prohibits such discussions in K-5. Butler's bill would expand it to pre-K-12, which he said would bring it inline with an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January. Critics of the bill said at the April 3 public hearing that the legislation is unconstitutional and unnecessary. A spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center, a consistent critic of the legislation, said in an interview Thursday she was relieved that the bill did not pass but she still had concerns for the legislation next year. 'I'm hoping that it stays dead, and I'm hoping that we don't see a new extension, a revival of it,' Makhayla DesRosiers, state community organizer for the Alabama SPLC office, said. Many members of the LGBTQ+ community spoke against the bill throughout the legislative process, all with similar concerns: what defines instructional time. DesRosiers said the lack of a definition opens the door for a complete prohibition of discussion. 'If I do extracurricular activities, is it also instructional time? If I'm learning something outside of my regular school hours, is that instructional time?' she asked. 'Who gets to define instructional time?' Butler has repeatedly said discussions of gender identity and sexuality are only prohibited when a teacher is teaching, but that is not explicit in the legislation. 'People keep saying the student can't do this or that. No, they carry their First Amendment rights with them into the school, and they absolutely can talk to the teacher, the principal, the nurse, the counselor, about whatever they want to talk about,' he said. Butler said the bill next year would be the original bill that was filed in February. A House amendment this spring removed a part of the bill that would have prohibited teachers from referring to students by their preferred gender if it conflicts with their assigned sex at birth. He said that is because another bill would have done the same thing. HB 246, sponsored by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle, would give public educators legal immunity and students immunity from discipline for using a person's legal name and pronouns aligned with their reproductive organs, instead of the name and gender with which they identify. It did not receive final passage either. DesRosier said that while the people speaking out against the legislation may be small in number, legislation like this is not reflective of the state. 'Just because there is a majority of folks that are proposing and voting on these bills at the State House, that is not reflective of the communities they are elected to represent,' DesRosier said. 'As long as bigotry and hate and human rights violations are proposed and passed, there are always going to be folks that are resisting that.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Metro
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Queer travellers are boycotting Florida — but is it doing more harm than good?
Calum McSwiggan is celebrating 20 prides on seven continents over 12 months. In his latest despatch from Florida – under fire from anti-LGBT+ legislation – he finds a community bonded together. Calls to boycott the state of Florida flood my social media feed. 'Boycott Florida, no trips, no purchases,' one woman writes, her message shared thousands of times. People from around the world are resisting the Sunshine State's anti-LGBT+ legislation. It led to further reflection on my decision to include Miami in my Year of Pride . None of the destinations I am visiting have been included without consideration. The boycott has been gaining traction for several years, driven by a slate of laws that have scaled back LBGT+ freedoms. In 2022, Florida Governor Ron de Santis signed the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, which prevents LGBT+ topics from being discussed in classrooms. One year later, Republicans passed the Bathroom Ban , which effectively makes it a crime for trans people to use single-sex spaces. Sweeping LGBT+ book bans, attacks on drag performers, and a petition to make it illegal for Pride flags to be flown from government buildings have also made headlines. It's making queer travellers think twice about visiting. I understand this, but spending time in Miami has helped me to see a different perspective. Florida may have long voted red, but Miami Beach has remained defiantly blue, consistently voting Democrat across local, state, and national elections. These aren't just statistics; you can feel this liberal identity everywhere you go. With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications! From the famous rainbow beach hut to the iconic pastel crossing, the city is decked out in Pride colours year-round. Twist, Miami's oldest gay bar, flies two enormous rainbow flags in the middle of the busiest boulevard, while Palace is renowned for its drag shows that run seven days a week. Every night, the crowds are so large they spill out onto Ocean Drive; it's impossible to visit this tourist landmark without seeing LGBT+ people not only represented, but loudly celebrated, too. During my visit, I attend a street naming ceremony for Matti Bower, the beloved activist who founded Miami Beach Pride. It's unprecedented to name a street after a person who's still living, but for her, they make an unchallenged exception. Bower served as the city's first female and first Hispanic mayor, as well as being a Cuban migrant and a proud Democrat. Naming a street after her is a win for the LGBT+ community, but it's also a win for other minorities living in the state of Florida. Alongside famously queer cities like Key West and Fort Lauderdale,Miami Beach has long been a haven for the LGBT+ community. Yet in catering so heavily to queer travellers, the city is reliant on revenue from LGBT+ tourists to keep queer establishments afloat. Go figure. A boycott threatens the livelihood of queer business owners, many of whom are already struggling. At the iconic 'hetero-friendly' Axel Hotel, I witness this firsthand. Calum McSwiggan, author of Eat Gay Love, is a man on a mission. He plans to spend 2025 exploring how the LGBT+ community is celebrated everywhere on Earth: 12 months, 7 continents, 20 Prides. In an exclusive Metro series, Calum will journey from the subzero climes of Antarctica to the jewel-toned streets of Mumbai, telling the story of Pride around the world. Follow his journey on Metro, in print and on our socials to learn how Pride is celebrated around the world. Next up? Thailand. Thunder and lightning flash overhead as the DJ bops up and down by the side of the pool. It's long served as a thriving hub for the LGBT+ community, but today, they are being forced to close their doors before Pride has even begun. The dismal weather doesn't stop people from showing up to say goodbye, though. They huddle together under the canopy as they celebrate the legacy of this important community space. It's not the only LGBT+ space to close down. Two gay swimwear stores have closed up shop since my last visit two years ago. A recent study from shows that 43% of LGBT+ travellers have cancelled a trip after seeing that a destination is unsupportive of LGBTQ+ people. Now, businesses are struggling, but this goes much deeper than economics. 'Even in times when the state's political narrative is targeting the LGBT+ community, Miami Beach has a long history of standing against this,'LGBT+ restaurant owner Egidio Guerreri tells Metro. This support goes back to the battle against Anita Bryant's homophobic 'Save Our Children' movement in the 70s. 'We will always be united, we will always make our voices heard, but we need support from the wider world too,' Egidio says. 'That's why it's so important that international LGBT+ travellers continue to visit – they're not just supporting our economy, they're supporting us by showing up and being visible, and helping to show that we're very much here to stay.' Florida is home to both the world's largest cruise port and some of its biggest theme parks – while an LGBT+ boycott certainly sends a message, it makes only a small dent in the state's broader economy. For small LGBT+ businesses, it could be fatal. Across Miami, there is a push for trans inclusivity, too. During a pageant competition to crown Mr & Mrs Miami Beach Pride, contestants are invited to dress in one of the colours of the six-stripe Pride flag. Instead, however, Oscar Gonsalez takes the stage in white. Wearing an intricate headpiece and winged gown, he deliberately breaks the rules to wear one of the colours of the trans Pride flag instead. He explains, in Spanish, that his outfit is a tribute to his transgender sister. He's crowned the winner shortly afterward. Rules be damned, Miami Beach consistently stands firm in its love and acceptance of every letter of the community. Perhaps most importantly, drag performer Sacha Colby is invited to be Grand Marshal in the parade. With both the drag and trans communities under the attack of state legislation, it feels especially poignant that they also place a transgender drag queen to be the festival's headline act. 'Give it up for the dolls,' she calls to the cheering crowd, using a term of endearment for transgender women. She's still dripping wet from dousing herself in water during her performance. 'We're still struggling, y'all. We still don't have healthcare. We still don't have human rights. We need to figure out how we can make everyone feel human. It's just being human.' These words feel healing. In fact, the whole festival feels like a therapeutic moment for Florida's LGBT+ community. People carry bright colourful signs that read 'Just breathe' and 'We will get through this.' One woman joyously waves a banner that reads ' Proud mother of a transgender son .' Moments of togetherness are what the city does so well. It's ironic that efforts to tear the community apart has only brought us closer together. More Trending It's not all political. Placing the Pride festival on the sands of Miami Beach makes for a unique atmosphere. People walk around in bikinis and swimwear, and there's a genuine sense of happiness and freedom that goes hand in hand with Miami's relaxed and easy way of life. To the outside world, it may seem like Florida is not a welcoming place to visit these days. But cities like Miami Beach are proof to the contrary. I can't tell you whether or not to boycott – that's a decision people will have to make for themselves. But if you are going to visit, my recommendation is that you spend your money generously within the state's queer establishments. That goes for our allies too – stop by an LGBT+ owned restaurant, go to see a drag show and tip those performers generously. Florida may be red, but the people of Miami are blue through and through. Getting there Virgin Atlantic offers return fares from London Heathrow from £412. Not only are they an inclusive airline, they've collaborated with organisations like Open For Business to highlight the economic impact of LGBT+ discrimination. Where to stay: Hotel Gaythering is now Miami's only LGBT+ hotel. For other queer-friendly recommendations, the following have all completed Travel Proud training: – Moxy Miami South Beach (££) – The Goodtime Hotel (£) – Nobu (£££) Things to do (beyond Pride) Walk or cycle along Miami Beach's pedestrianised promenade. With more than eight miles of picturesque coastline, you can see it all on a Citibike for as little as $6.50. Swim and sunbathe at Miami's vibrant gay beach. Just head to 12th street and look for the rainbow volleyball nets. To support a local LGBT+ business you can pick up swimwear from Outfair's online shop. Squeeze in a workout: Muscle Beach is incredibly popular with LGBT+ tourists and locals alike. If you prefer cardio to lifting weights, the Miami Gay Run Club meets every Wednesday. All abilities welcome. Where to eat and drink Bakalo: Bringing their Mediterranean concept all the way from the gay mecca of Mykonos, Nikos Nanou and Egidio Guerreri are partners in both life and business. Stepping into their charming restaurant feels like being welcomed into their home. Jaffa: Founded by renowned LGBT+ chef Yaniv Cohen, this kosher and vegan-friendly restaurant delivers everything from beef brisket to turmeric-roasted cauliflower. Palace: No trip to Miami would be complete without enjoying their iconic drag brunch. Bring cash; make no mistake, these drag artists earn their tips. MORE: Black tornado looms 'like scene in Stranger Things' during storms which killed 27 MORE: Map shows severe storms in US after 21 killed across three states MORE: I holidayed like a local in Japan and didn't touch Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto
