Outlet gives Florida an ‘F’ grade for ‘LGBTQ+ safety’
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The outlet “SafeHome.org” gave Florida an “F” grade for “LGBTQ+ safety,” thanks to its “legal environment,” lack of “participation” in law enforcement crime reporting and other criteria.
The ranking also use the false name of the state’s Parental Rights in Education Act – “Don’t Say Gay law” – when scrutinizing the state’s policies.
“Additional anti-equality legislation on Florida’s books includes sodomy laws and laws that allow or require intentional misgendering of public school students,” it said. “In 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law that limited drag shows in the state, which a Florida federal judge later blocked.”
Overall, recent reports have found Florida’s tough-on-crime policies working to improve the safety of Florida’s residents.
Indeed, DeSantis has signed multiple laws approved by state GOP lawmakers that limits sexually explicit content being placed in front of children, but no such laws apply only to “LGBTQ” people and topics.
Lawmakers have expanded those policies since the 2022 red wave, when Florida voters elected Republicans statewide with nearly 60% of the vote.
“Last year, Florida was the 15th worst state in our ranking, but newer and harsher legislation contributed to its plummeting safety score,” SafeHome said.
The chart places blue states like Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Delaware toward the top, and they mainly compose the top 25 of 50 states plus the District of Columbia.
South Dakota ranked last behind Florida. Wyoming was 49th, Ohio 49th, Alabama 47th, West Virginia 46th and Arizona 45th.
“Florida will take the F, which is really a W,” one social media user reacted.
Though Florida has faced criticism from Democrats and mainstream media outlets in recent years for its policies, no state law includes provisions against LGBTQ people, such as the parental rights laws – which apply to sexual content, whether it is “straight” or “LGBTQ.”
