“Woke” would “die” in Florida: how Ron DeSantis bullies LGBTQ people

“Florida is where Wake goes to die,” announces Governor Ron DeSantis, likely calling for a fight against the “Wake” world. In Florida, the “wakefulness” should die — and members of the LGBTQ community are particularly feeling the effects.

DeSantis has enacted several anti-queer and anti-trans laws. For example, in the conservative Sunshine State, teaching about sexual orientation is banned in all grades in public schools. Books with LGBTQ content are disappearing from public libraries. Even the “awake” World Disney theme park is on the governor’s hit list.

Two young queer people report to Watson how they assess the situation on the ground and what it feels like not to love without limits in the Sunshine State under DeSantis.

Young queer man from Florida is worried

“It doesn’t look good,” Mark Medley writes when asked by Watson. The 31-year-old works in an IT department in a small Florida community. The state is his birthplace, his home. “I grew up here and later went to college in the Tampa Bay area,” he says. But the current situation for the LGBTQ community shocks him.

“Queer people in Florida are in the worst situation they’ve ever experienced,” he said. At least since queerness has become visible and accepted, he admits. Florida is part of the “Bible Belt” making it a very conservative state in the US.

The term “Bible Belt” encompasses an area that stretches like a belt through the southern states, where the Bible is an integral part of life. The majority of the population follows a deeply conservative Christian lifestyle – and queer people apparently don’t get any blessings here.

Trump made right-wing radicals strong in Florida

“The queer community is clearly being silenced,” said Carly* when asked by Watson. Like Mark, she was born in Florida and has lived in the Sunshine State all her life. According to the 31-year-old, Florida lawmakers are hiding behind the child protection argument. “In doing so, they ignore the real threats to children’s safety, such as gun violence in schools,” she says.

“Donald Trump empowered the radical right and we feel that today in Florida,” explained Mark. Things changed when Trump entered the White House in 2017.

Mark explains:

Carly says Trump’s election paved the way for bigotry. In other words, for a narrow and exaggerated zeal for faith. “People have been extremely divided since Trump’s tenure, including in Florida, which has swung sharply to the right in recent years — in favor of Republicans,” she says.

According to Carly, DeSantis is in a campaign mood and is prioritizing bills that he can use in a possible presidential election. “De facto policies in support of Floridians and minority voices are completely ignored,” she says.

Mark also criticizes DeSantis for his political moves: “He mainly wants to draw attention and distract from the real problems in Florida.” Not without consequences for those affected.

Psychological stress for LGBTQ people is great

“The anti-LGBTQ laws are a huge psychological blow to everyone in the gay community,” he says. He has friends who have already moved to more liberal states – to places where LGBTQ protection laws have been passed. “I have trans friends who drug and work to get out of state,” he says.

He fears the anti-LGBTQ wave DeSantis has unleashed will be unstoppable – even if he steps down from his position as governor one day. Could Florida quickly recover from DeSantis’ anti-racist, queer and transpolitical practices? Hardly, says Mark.

“It won’t be easy to restore some of the LGBTQ protections that have been removed by legislation in recent years,” he says. But he does not give up hope. Florida’s LGBTQ community is brave.

There remains hope for better times for Florida’s LGBTQ community

You probably won’t give up that easily. Because according to Mark, there are still plenty of people who are committed to the queer community. But entire companies such as Disney World are also standing up for LGBTQ rights in Florida. That’s why it’s clear to him: he’s staying.

The Florida native wants to support his LGBTQ community. For example during the annual swingover weekend. The passionate dancer is committed to safety for queer event participants. “I spend most of my time dancing and focus on my west coast swing dance community in Florida,” he says. And Carly?

DeSantis policies also govern what is taught in schools

“I’ll be honest, I don’t feel at home in Florida,” she says. She does not want her future children to grow up in this narrow-minded society. She also thinks it is important that she is taught a ‘correct story’ at schools. The government is removing textbooks that cover important historical topics.

She says:

For example, the Florida school board decided to ban African American Studies as a school subject. DeSantis’s politics are also likely to have racist streaks – migrants feel that too. Several organizations are now issuing a travel warning for Florida. It is “may not be a safe place” for minorities.

Carly always argues that America is based on progress. “Our ideas change as we learn more about people,” she means. It is important to the young woman that the history and struggles of the people are recognized. But according to her, right-wing Republicans see something bad in it and devalue it as an “awakened agenda.”

She wonders:

According to Carly, the LGBTQ community has already achieved too much to shut up now. “Every person, regardless of age, has the right to be who they are and to love who they want to love,” she insists. It is not the government’s job to judge.