New York Mayor Eric Adams is urging gay Floridians to give up the Sunshine State and head for the Big Apple after activist groups and multinational corporations came out in opposition to the so-called “Don’t Say Gay” bill signed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis last week.
The new law, which does not contain the word “gay” in its text, prevents primary aged children from receiving gender theory or sexuality education until a time considered age appropriate by the legislature. Conservatives have called it a parental rights law or an “anti-grooming” law.
Adams apparently calls it an opportunity to reverse the recent trend of population decline in New York by attracting gay Floridians who are capable of appreciating the city’s “diversity.”
He said that New York accepts people “No matter what ethnicity, no matter how you self identify” and said he’s putting up billboards in “major markets across Florida to let everyone know.”
NYC Mayor Adams says he is putting up billboards in Florida to try and convince gay residents to move to New York City in response to the Parental Rights in Education law that makes it illegal to teach sexual orientation to K-3rd graders.
pic.twitter.com/QVuK0IyCma— American Principles 🇺🇸 (@approject) April 4, 2022
“We’re targeting Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach,” said Adams. “We believe we’re going to get about 5 million impressions, and they’re going to be up for an 8 week period, celebrating diversity and acceptance of New York City.”
Adams was elected in a landslide victory. Republicans, however, made historic gains on Long Island.
“Other folks want people to hide their color,” said Adams, seemingly referring to DeSantis.
“We like to show our color, and the rainbow is representative of this community,” said Adams. “New York City is full of people who will be celebrated now and in the future.”
If Adams’ billboard campaign is successful, it would be a reversal to recent trends for Florida and the city.
The Brooklyn Eagle reported in 2021 that 33,000 New Yorkers left the Empire State, specifically New York City, for the Gulf State in a one year period.
This follows a greater pattern of emigration from New York that precedes the COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s harsh lockdowns.
From July 2019 to July 2020, 126,355 residents left the city. From January to December of 2020, 70,000 people left the New York metropolitan area alone, which Reuters noted means the city lost $34 billion in income.
