Posted: 5/18/23 at 3:40pm
In light of Gov. DeSantis signing an extreme “License to Discriminate” Healthcare Bill where doctors can now deny medical services to LGBTQ+ citizens, should Broadway tours suspend performances in Florida? I would think this presents a health risk to the touring casts and crews. The trade unions should be all over this.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 3:48pm
Yes, they absolutely should.
Will they? Probably not.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 3:55pm
Although i think Desantis and Floridian republican policies are abhorrent, wouldn’t this just hurt theatre in Florida? I’d Desantis doesn’t care about doing business with Disney why would he care about doing business with the different theatres and presenters in Florida? Who knows how many theatre companies in Florida keep LGBTQIA+ and if the rest of theatre community were to shut them off they would all be at risk of losing their jobs. I think the best thing for tours to do is to keep doing business and if they gets in trouble for having a drag character in their show then they should fight it, I don’t see how any of these laws can legitimately find standing in court.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:05pm
I know I will be avoiding Florida. I'll be spending my Gay dollars elsewhere.
Updated On: 5/18/23 at 04:05 PM
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:05pm
Call_me_jorge said: "Although i think Desantis and Floridian republican policies are abhorrent, wouldn’t this just hurt theatre in Florida? I’d Desantis doesn’t care about doing business with Disney why would he care about doing business with the different theatres and presenters in Florida? Who knows how many theatre companies in Florida keep LGBTQIA+ and if the rest of theatre community were to shut them off they would all be at risk of losing their jobs. I think the best thing for tours to do is to keep doing business and if they gets in trouble for having a drag character in their show then they should fight it, I don’t see how any of these laws can legitimately find standing in court."
This isn't about the anti-drag bills. This is about if a gay or trans person gets sick or injured while in Florida, EMS responders or emergency room doctors can refuse to treat them simply because they don't want to
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:09pm
I was thinking more about the safety of the troupe, God forbid someone should need a doctor or hospital while on tour and they encounter a homophone or religious zealot. The State cannot guarantee their safety. Would be the equivalent of touring in a war zone - they shouldn’t want the responsibility or possibility of injury.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:10pm
Not Just Florida, but a good place to start. It seemed to have worked for awhile in North Carolina a few years ago and in Arizona when sports leagues balked at bathroom bills and refusal to recognize MLK day
Looking forward to RDS going to a Dr. who tells him he or she doesn't serve bigots or @$$holes
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:20pm
Have to admit that I attend these performances minimum several times a year, so I would miss them. That said, I absolutely think they should show some balls and do it. I have no doubt the Florida is big business for them, between Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando in particular, but I would love for it to happen. DeSantis needs to understand that his racist and sexist policies in particular are not going unchallenged in a tangible way that would anger many Florida citizens. They need to take a long view. Will future tours of Kinky Boots be banned in Florida, will Matilda need to be recast so Trunchbull is a woman? A Strange Loop? Some Like It Hot? Will and etc.
Of course, I have no doubt that Florida government will have no problem ignoring the fact that SLIT is way different from the original movie, as long as it contributes tax money.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 4:47pm
Jarethan said: "Have to admit that I attend these performances minimum several times a year, so I would miss them. That said, I absolutely think they should show some balls and do it. I have no doubt the Florida is big business for them, between Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Palm Beach, Jacksonville, Tampa and Orlando in particular, but I would love for it to happen. DeSantis needs to understand that his racist and sexist policies in particular are not going unchallenged in a tangible way that would anger many Florida citizens. They need to take a long view. Will future tours of Kinky Boots be banned in Florida, will Matilda need to be recast so Trunchbull is a woman? A Strange Loop? Some Like It Hot? Will and etc.
Of course, I have no doubt that Florida government will have no problem ignoring the fact that SLIT is way different from the original movie, as long as it contributes tax money."
this thread is specifically mentioning the "license to discriminate." Drag characters aside, this is about the performers and production teams seeking access to medical care and being discriminated against for being queer, REGARDLESS whether or not their show features a character in perceived drag or fitting DeSantis' drag bill- not what you've mentioned above.
Updated On: 5/18/23 at 04:47 PM
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:06pm
"HB1521 states that “females and males” must use a restroom that is “respective to their sex” as means of maintaining public safety. HB1521 puts trans people in danger of going to the restroom in public facilities because of the definitions of “sex” in the bill. Previous bills targeting trans people from using the restroom define “sex” as one that is “assigned at birth,” but HB1521 takes it much further.
The definition of “sex” in HB1521 is classified as “female and male” with “a specific reproductive role,” that is determined “by the person’s sex chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, and internal and external genitalia present at birth.” What makes this extreme is that for trans people whose legal paperwork reflect their gender identity, they are still vulnerable to the bill.
Even definitions of what qualifies as public casts a wide net on which bathrooms could be a dangerous facility for trans people to use. Defined as spaces that are “owned and leased by [Florida],” restrooms that are public include airports, convention centers, schools, parks, shopping malls, stadiums, and more.
Should a trans person be reported to the facility and refuse to leave or not comply, penalties will be qualified as a trespass under Florida’s statute of Burglary and Trespass, which would incriminate a trans person up to one year. The jail will “likely [be] a jail of the wrong gender identity, which will put trans people in immense danger of sexual assault,” LGBTQ rights journalist Erin Reed wrote in her newsletter Erin In The Morning.
People using restrooms who are accused of being trans also will be obligated to undergo genitalia exams, DNA testing, and other invasive procedures."
I sincerely hope that no tours go to Florida. If they don't respect the cast and crew or have any concern for their safety, why should they entertain them? It's disgusting.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:07pm
C'mon theater artists! Don't miss being part of the party!
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:23pm
The simple answer is YES! Florida has become nothing but a banana republic! Broadway tours should completely withdraw from Florida! With the draconian laws in place there, let’s say that a production of Kinky Boots or The Prom were to stop there, some whack job conservative could report it to the government and the show could face a lawsuit. If Drag shows are being criminalized in Florida, any Broadway musical that has any LGBTQ references would be considered “woke” and inappropriate for anyone under 18. Sad reality is that DeSantis is about to announce a run for president and if he gets elected, Theatre will not be safe under his leadership!
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:38pm
Of note, the national tour of Mrs. Doubtfire has performances scheduled in cities all over Florida from March 26 - April 28 of next year. Are they crazy or something? Can the lead actor even wear a dress if there are precious little children in the audience?
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:44pm
I grew up in Florida and every time I’ve returned in the last several years to visit family, I’ve become more disheartened. It’s truly grown visibly, tangibly worse. I’m from a liberal part of the state, the Tampa Bay area, but even there it’s extremely noticeable. It’s gone from a chill, laid back beachy population to a population of aggrieved, hostile, oddly uniform people. Trump and DeSantis have turned it into a revolting riviera.
In the long term, I think it’ll all collapse- the population driving politics in the state is aging. The new housing developments are too expensive for many native Floridians, so folks are leaving. Service and physically demanding jobs aren’t being filled, because young people are leaving the state and the older folks can’t or won’t take them. To say nothing of the ever increasing threat of climate-related disasters.
In the meantime, I would love to see businesses cut ties with the state, and that includes Broadway tours. Disney should pack up its kingdom, as well.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:56pm
I've worked as an actor in Florida and I have gone to Disney World at least once a year for the past 20+ years. I do not in any way feel comfortable going to Florida now. No...not 'comfortable'. Safe. I don't feel safe going there.
I agree with Kad...this will all collapse at some point. But people are going to actually die because of these policies and I won't be one of them. And I won't give that state my money either. It's horrifying.
If I were a queer actor on a tour that is going to play Florida after the law goes into effect, I would have to quit the tour. There's no safety for queer people in that state. Nor is there safety for women or minorities.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:57pm
Kad said: "I grew up in Florida and every time I’ve returned in the last several years to visit family, I’ve become more disheartened. It’s truly grown visibly, tangibly worse. I’m from a liberal part of the state, the Tampa Bay area, but even there it’s extremely noticeable. It’s gone from a chill, laid back beachy population to a population of aggrieved, hostile, oddly uniform people. Trump and DeSantis have turned it into a revolting riviera.
In the long term, I think it’ll all collapse- the population driving politics in the state is aging. The new housing developments are too expensive for many native Floridians, so folks are leaving.Service and physically demanding jobs aren’t being filled, because young people are leaving the state and the older folks can’t or won’t take them. To say nothing of the ever increasing threat of climate-related disasters.
In the meantime, I would love to see businesses cut ties with the state, and that includes Broadway tours. Disney should pack up its kingdom, as well."
The last time I was in the Tampa area (prior to pandemic), there were so many MAGA hats that you couldn’t even count them all. Truly awful.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 5:58pm
I was stationed with the U.S. Navy for six years in Northwest Florida in the early 1970's. Although I have many happy memories of that period, I have not, and will not, return. Florida has become a disgrace to our Union,
Thank you, Disney.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/18/media/disney-florida-desantis/index.html
Posted: 5/18/23 at 6:55pm
I love how Disney is screwing over DeSatan. Just pulled a $2 billion deal that would have created 2,000 jobs. Only place in Florida I'd feel safe would be in Disney World.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 6:57pm
Of course they should. But its a business, so of course they won't.
Not sure why Florida is any more of a concern than Tennessee or various other states intent on dragging us back into the 1800s.
Posted: 5/18/23 at 7:01pm
PipingHotPiccolo said: "Of course they should. But its a business, so of course they won't.
Not sure why Florida is any more of a concern than Tennessee or various other states intent on dragging us back into the 1800s."
Because Florida is the third most populous state in the country and therefore has substantially more impact on the decisions of businesses and politicians. To say nothing of its governor’s eyes on the White House.
Updated On: 5/18/23 at 07:01 PM
Posted: 5/18/23 at 11:03pm
More proof to stay out of Florida.
https://thehill.com/homenews/nexstar_media_wire/4010938-florida-traffic-sign-altered-to-read-kill-all-gays/amp/
Posted: 5/18/23 at 11:48pm
It’s a shame what is happening in Florida. Art saves lives and heals people. it’s sad that those who are good, noble and loving people in Florida would be punished if tours cancelled. However maybe it would encourage them to move.
Posted: 5/19/23 at 12:14am
There was an observation early on in this thread that boycotting Florida would just hurt Florida theatre-goers. That notion dangerously misapprehends what's going on here. Floridians elected DeSantis who appears more and more like a fascist every day. If a year of deprivation prompts more trouble for him like the politically debilitating actions the mouse is taking (and will continue to take) then it will be worth it. I am not joining those who want the good folk to move away: I hope they stay and fight.
Posted: 5/19/23 at 12:51am
Bettyboy72 said: "maybe it would encourage them to move."
It's not that simple for a lot of us here
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