Let me tell you a brief story.
A couple of years ago, I met a wonderful couple. They were considering relocating to Florida as a final place to settle down. As usual, there were some complicating factors. They were leaving an area that they loved and relocating would involve liquidating some real estate. Then, there was their church.
They loved their church. They supported it in every way possible.
We met in church. Over time they came to love the area and their new church. They started the process and did all that they needed to do to complete their relocation.
Including becoming very active in their new church.
I was very fortunate. We became friends.
But, things have changed.
Oh, not our friendship. Not their love of their new church.
Florida.
We expect to lose people when we have a hurricane. So, when a Category 5 named Ian blew through, we lost people.
But, not my friends. They were here and continued to be here, helping where they could.
Not true now. They will leave as soon as they can.
Not because of Ian.
Because of legalized bigotry that leaves them fearful.
I learned about bigotry early in my life. I remember one incident when I was in elementary school in rural Tennessee. A rumor ran rampant that a new family was moving in near us. Not a lot of new families moved into our area. But, there was something wrong with this scenario. People were very upset. “This cannot happen!”
You see, the family was black. And we weren’t. No one in the school or our community was.
In truth, they never moved in. Somehow, someone helped them to find a home just over the county line.
Racism. Bigotry.
You can attach an “ism” to many things to identify a bigotry. Racism and sexism are two.
I propose another one. Floridaism.
You see, the Florida Governor and Legislature are legalizing bigotry.
My friends are a trans couple. They have been for a long time, but discovered it later on. No one convinced, recruited, or converted them. That isn’t how it happens. They discovered it. That is often how it happens with sexuality and gender identity. They made their way through the difficulty of the discovery that often leads to the breakup of marriages, a Cat 5 in itself, and have made their peace with it.
And now, they must leave for another state.
Why? Laws are being passed in Florida that a trans person must use the restroom of their birth gender identity. If you have transitioned as a male and were born a female, you must use the women’s restroom. How do you think that this will work? Further, if you do not do this, you can be arrested. What will happen to you in jail? What self-appointed inspector will check you out and determine your legitimacy? And this will, I guarantee, lead to physical abuse.
And there are others. For instance, it is not a civil rights violation if your beliefs are based on your religion or politics. Really? The way that I see it is that a bigot is a bigot is a ….. Well, you get it.
They are leaving to save their lives.
Not just because they are not welcome, but because their health and welfare are at stake.
And it is not just them. Today, I heard of the child of another friend who is in the same situation. Due to threats, they are trying to leave as soon as possible. Then, there are gay couples who are putting their houses on the market to leave, too. Others are talking about leaving the country.
Floridaism. Bigotry.
I know that it is not just Florida. I hear from folks in Alabama and Tennessee wondering about how long that they can safely stay there. Some of our state governments are sanctioning bigotry and endangering the lives of people of less power while avoiding dealing with substantive issues such as low school funding and performance and increasing violence. Maybe that is why they are doing it.
Perhaps it is more related to getting rid of people who will vote for someone else, rather than for those in power – a social gerrymandering.
Or, maybe they are just bigots.
Whatever their reasoning, it is wrong. And the state and those of us who are blessed to be their friends, lose. We all lose when people who so deeply love others and care about doing what is right are forced to leave.
😥