Los Angeles County bans official travel to Florida, Texas over LGBTQ policies
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted this week to suspend all travel for county business to Florida and Texas, citing policies and legislation in the Republican-led states that officials said were driven by “transphobia and homophobia.”
Supervisors cited the February order by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, directing the state to investigate reports of gender-affirming treatments as potential child abuse.
“To be clear, the directive is not about protecting trans kids,” the board’s motion said. “It is about denying their existence and cutting off access to life-saving treatment.”
Florida was included because the Parental Rights in Education legislation – known by critics as the “Don’t Say G.a.y” bill – was signed into law late last month by Gov. Ron DeSantis, R. The law does not allow classroom instruction on S**ual orientation or gender identity between kindergarten and third grade, “or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.”
The Los Angeles County agenda item said the law would “perpetuate a culture of bullying, secrecy, shame, and fear.”
“The kind of school environment imagined in this legislation is one that is uncomfortable, unsafe, unwelcoming, and toxic for all students and staff alike, particularly those who identify as LGBTQ+,” the motion said.
Officials in Texas and Florida did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The travel ban will be lifted if the Florida law or Texas order are suspended, the county agenda item said.
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