New York City Mayor Eric Adams is erecting five billboards in major Florida cities criticizing the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law and encouraging people to move to New York.
Designed by subsidiaries of advertising giant WPP, the digital billboards are placed on advertising space donated by the company. They will perform in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach for eight weeks beginning Monday.
“Come to the city where you can say whatever you want,” reads one of the ads, surrounded by the word “gay” in different font sizes and colors. Another simply proclaims on a plain black background: “When other states show their true colors, we show ours.”
They are in response to Florida’s Parental Rights in Education bill, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law last week. The law prohibits classroom teaching of sex, gender identity and sexual orientation “in a manner that is not age appropriate.”
The legislation has sparked tensions between state Republicans and Disney, who opposed it, after employees at the company’s theme parks and studios staged walkouts over a lack of response.
Adams’ announcement drew immediate criticism, with some Twitter users wondering why their local government is now getting into national politics.
“This is gonna fix New York to buy gay Florida billboards…that really nailed it,” wrote Twitter user @Route3Complete.
Another person said, “Ironically, this would move Democrats away from a swing state and toward a state that is already voting blue.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced Monday that he will put up posters in five major Florida cities criticizing the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” law
The billboards, created by subsidiaries of British advertising giant WPP, will be placed on advertising space donated by the company. They encourage Florida’s LGBTQ population to move to New York
The digital billboards will appear in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach starting Monday
Mayor Adams appeared alongside LGBTQ advocates as he debuted the billboards Monday, which will remain in place through May 29.
Kalima McKenzie-Simms, director of LGBTQ programs at the city’s Department of Education, mentioned the high suicide rates of transgender youth, a point Mayor Adams emphasized.
“I remember being a captain in the 6th precinct in downtown Manhattan, walking down Christopher Street to Park by the Pier and talking to some of the young people who, when they decided to talk to their parents about who they wanted to be, Some of them were thrown out of their homes – were runaways – and I think you’re right, it’s a matter of life and death,” he said.
“This is the town of Stonewall,” he added, referring to the 1969 bar riots that sparked the modern gay rights movement.
“This is the city where we pride ourselves on how to live in a comfortable environment and not be molested, not abused, not only as adults but also as young people.
The billboards will run for eight weeks from April 4th to May 29th in key Florida markets
“And we’re going to be vocal in our support and saying to those who live in Florida, ‘Listen, we want you here in New York. We want you right here in New York City.”
Adams called the law a “political spectacle” that “demonizes” LGBTQ people.
Critics say the Florida law’s open language, which also prevents “classroom discussion” of LGBTQ issues, would prevent children from confiding in teachers when they feel insecure about their identity.
Republicans say it’s necessary to keep discussion of sensitive matters at home.
One of the New York City-sponsored billboards to be erected in Florida reads, “Loud. Proud. Still Allowed’, with a heart covered in a Pride flag.
The billboard recruitment appears to be a reversal of Gov. Desantis’ efforts to lure unvaccinated cops to Florida with a $5,000 relocation bonus. By November, at least a dozen NYPD officers had accepted him.
The “Don’t Say Gay” law has escalated tensions between Florida’s Republican Legislature and Disney, a company that has enjoyed decades of support and independence from the state government.
The entertainment giant has spoken out against the bill after its employees staged strikes and protests over the bill and Disney’s perceived silence.
The poster announcement sparked an immediate backlash on social media
On Friday, Gov. DeSantis said Disney’s woke ideology poses a significant threat to the state, and he threatened to scrap the company’s privileges, including its right to build anything it wants at its theme park.
The governor’s comments come as some lawmakers are considering punishing Walt Disney World for publicly opposing the law by repealing a 55-year law allowing the company to govern itself.
“They have received incredible treatment from the Florida Legislature and are treated on a pedestal, this one company is treated differently than any other,” Gov. DeSantis said. “I’ve never supported that. In the legislature you see a move to reassess the special privileges.’
Florida House Representative Spencer Roach tweeted Wednesday that lawmakers held two meetings this week to discuss repealing the Reedy Creek Improvement Act of 1967, which he said “allows Disney to act as its own.” government to act”.
Spencer, a Republican, added, “If Disney is going to embrace the woke ideology, it seems appropriate that Orange County should regulate it.”
Also on Monday, a concerned mother spoke out against Mayor Adams’ decision to keep a mask mandate for children ages 2 and older.
“Three weeks ago you told the parents to trust you, that you would unmask our toddlers,” Daniela Jampel called out from behind during a press question-and-answer session.
“They stood right here and said the masks were going to come off on April 4th. That didn’t happen.
The mayor’s staff tried to prevent her from completing her question
Mayor Adams, who appeared frustrated, said, “No, no, no. Let her finish because you let her start. Go ahead and finish ma’am, okay? But one must come to a conclusion. Turn on your phone to get my answer right, but come to one conclusion.’
The woman continued: “You took your lawyers to court on Friday night, arguing that there would be irreparable harm if children under five were allowed to take their masks off at school today along with their older siblings,” Jampel continued.
Adams said his plan is to always keep up with the number of cases.
“I made the announcement that today, Monday, we wanted to announce that we were taking masks off of children aged 2 and 4. But I also said if we see an uptrend we will come back and announce what we are going to do.
“We will rotate and shift as COVID rotates and shifts. There is a new variant. The numbers are increasing. We’re going to move at the right pace and that’s the role I have to play.
“That is what I said. I keep my promises.
Adams vowed to end the mask mandate for under-4s on March 22. A Staten Island judge struck it down Friday, but Adam’s office appealed the decision and upheld the order, the New York Post reports.
Adams explained that the city’s COVID positivity rate rose to 2.67 percent last week from the monthly moving average of 2.33 percent.
He added that medical professionals have called for the mandate to remain in place as there is no vaccine for young children.
Adams was also confronted by parents who were furious at his decision to extend the under-5s mask mandate when he came to town for a Broadway show.
The new mayor, who has quickly become known for rubbing shoulders with celebrities, was met with angry chants of “Bomb our children!” while attending the Paradise Square Broadway Musical at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on Sunday night.
Parents calling for the mask mandate to be lifted confronted Adams on Sunday
A handful of women held up signs as Adams entered the building wearing a gray KN95 mask. The latest twist in New York’s under-five masking saga began Friday when Adams said he was delaying plans to lift the April 4 rule.
On the same day, a state judge lifted the indefinite mask rule for under-five-year-olds.
That legislature called it “arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable” and therefore “void and unenforceable”.
But Adams successfully applied for a stay, only to appeal just hours later.
He’s teased parents with a string of social events, including a party with Cara Delevingne at the new One Vanderbilt skyscraper last week and a trip to see Sarah Jessica Parker and her husband Matthew Broderick in the Broadway play Plaza Suite.
Adams also attended the White Tie Gridiron Dinner in Washington DC on Saturday with a long list of politicians and journalists.