NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' planned visit to Chelsea, one of New York City's quintessentially gay neighborhoods during Pride month, has some local LGBTQ Democratic politicians fuming.
State Sen. Brad Hoylman, who represents the area, joined other Democratic LGBTQ lawmakers, demanding Chelsea Piers cancel a scheduled event next Sunday with DeSantis who has been criticized for signing the so-called "Don't Say Gay" bill into law, which blocks discussion of sexual identity and gender at Florida schools.
"The LGBTQ community should not be fodder for Ron DeSantis, who signed the 'Don't Say Gay' law in Florida for his fundraising purposes," he told 1010 WINS on Monday.
DeSantis is scheduled to speak at the Jewish Leadership Conference event at Pier Sixty to share "the Florida model and why it’s good for religious Americans," which is just a few blocks from the historic Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, where the LGBTQ rights movement was sparked in 1969.
Hoylman told 1010 WINS that the embrace of an "anti-LGBTQ governor" like DeSantis "to the west side of Manhattan in the middle of Pride is really a nonstarter."
"[He] is trying to take away the rights of LGBTQ kids and their families in Florida," he added. "We should not be providing him a venue to perpetuate his hatred and homophobia and transphobia. New York is better than that. Chelsea Piers is better than that."
The conference is hosted by the Tikvah Fund, a conservative Jewish group, and will feature former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former New York Times commentator Bari Weiss.
This is not the first time that his planned appearance has stirred controversy.
According to the New York Times, the plan to host the conference at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park was canceled when it was learned that DeSantis had been invited to speak.
Councilman Erik Bottcher, another LGBTQ Democrat who also asked for the event to be canceled, told the New York Daily News that the "work of people like Ron DeSantis kills our young people"
"Homophobia doesn’t just exist in Florida, however, and it must be fought wherever it rears its bigoted head, including here in Chelsea," he said.
Chelsea Piers and Pier Sixty, which currently has "Celebrate PRIDE! All Month" with same-sex wedding couples displayed on their venue's homepage, praised being an "intentionally inclusive and welcoming place for all."
"Chelsea Piers is proud of our longstanding relationship with the LGBTQ+ community," a spokesperson told the Daily News.
A Daily News inquiry to DeSantis' office was punted to his campaign and has garnered no response.
Related
Related
