Culture
NYC mayor announces billboard campaign in Florida opposing 'Don't Say Gay'
New York City mayor Eric Adams announced a Florida billboard campaign that invites LGBT families there to move to New York following the state’s passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill
April 6, 2022 6:39am
Updated: April 6, 2022 12:22pm
New York City mayor Eric Adams announced a Florida billboard campaign that invites LGBT families there to move to New York following the state’s passage of the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
“I am the mayor of New York City, but I have a message for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community — come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want,” Adams said in a press conference on Tuesday, where he was flanked by LGBT lawmakers.
“Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill is the latest shameful, extremist culture war targeting the LGBTQ+ community. Today, we say to the families living in fear of this state-sponsored discrimination that you will always have a home in New York City.”
We have a message for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community: come to a city where you can be you. Join us now at City Hall. https://t.co/0OOg7zigSB
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 4, 2022
The move comes in response to Florida Gov. DeSantis (R) signing HB 1557, entitled the “Parental Rights in Education” bill, into law last week.
The legislation states, “Classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in Kindergarten through third grade or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
HB 1557 has been labeled as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill by liberal politicians and activists and criticized for discriminating against the LGBT community.
DeSantis has leaned into the culture wars by taking on Disney, Florida’s largest employer, who announced that it would help defeat the bill in court.
Polling shows that HB 1557 has overwhelming support once voters read the bill.
"I have a message for Florida’s LGBTQ+ community: come to a city where you can say and be whoever you want.”
— City of New York (@nycgov) April 4, 2022
- @NYCMayor
Learn more: https://t.co/DxNAcrCNeC#DontSayGay pic.twitter.com/ezCd25wa8w
The ads will be run on digital billboards in the Florida cities of Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach, for eight weeks starting on Apr. 4.
The campaign comes as Adams has come under fire from New York LGBT activists for appointing multiple officials to his administration with histories of homophobic remarks, reports the New York Post.
