Robert Kesten, executive director of the Stonewall Museum, expressed disappointment, stating, "There is no reason to discredit a group of people that drive a tremendous amount of tourist dollars into the state. An apology should be made and the pages should be reinstated." This underscores the economic implications of excluding the LGBTQ+ community from Florida's tourist marketing.
Keith Blackburn from the Greater Fort Lauderdale LGBT Chamber of Commerce lamented, "It's just disgusting to see this. They seem to want to erase us," reflecting the broader concerns about visibility and representation for LGBTQ+ individuals in the face of state policies.
DeSantis defended his policy changes, asserting at a press conference, "Our view as a state is we're the best place to visit, we're open to all, but we're not going to be segregating people," which raises questions about the inclusiveness of Florida’s tourism messaging.
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