Billboards That ‘Say Gay’ Spring Up Around Florida In Objection Of Bill
Image via Southern Progress PAC
“Don’t say gay,” Florida warns.
“Gay,” advocates for self-acceptance and human equality retaliate.
To protest the colloquially-termed ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill recently passed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, billboards reading “Say Gay” have made their way around cities in Florida, including Orlando, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, with Miami expecting a sign this week.
Hitting officials where it hurts the most is the fact that the word “Gay” takes up the bulk of the boards.
Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have pissed us all off. So this week we are going to cover the state of Florida in these in response. pic.twitter.com/VjCMP6fVFW
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) March 21, 2022
The striking messages are commissioned by the Southern Progress Political Action Committee, a group that “exists to speak truth to power and expose the extremist agenda of Republican politicians,” targeting politicians in one-party-dominant states like Arkansas, Georgia, and Texas.
The billboards rebel against Florida’s new Parental Rights in Education bill that prohibits gender identity or sexual orientation from being discussed in classrooms for schoolchildren in kindergarten through grade three, as such topics are purportedly “not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate.” The proposed law is poised to take effect on July 1.
Saying gay is “more than OK,” the committee’s volunteer Ally Sammarco tells WESH. There is nothing wrong with opening up about who you are, the member adds.
Disney has also promised to help repeal the legislation after being called out for muting LGBTQIA+ voices and for its inaction in diversity practices.
“Florida’s HB 1557, also known as the ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill, should never have passed and should never be signed into law,” declares the Walt Disney Company.
[via NBC News and The Hill, images via Southern Progress PAC]
