The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors in California has passed a rule banning government-sponsored travel for county employees to Texas and Florida.
Officials there want to send a message to officials here about the Texas policies affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.
"This is no time to be enacting more legislation designed to encourage more harassment and suffering, and that's exactly what the states of Texas and Florida have done," said L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. "This motion calls for a travel ban on all travel to these states - Texas and Florida - for the conduct of county business...that is, travel that we pay for with taxpayer money. It sends a message that we won't support this egregious behavior"
Officials in Los Angeles are upset over Governor Abbott's order this spring directing the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming care for transgender kids.
The department did launch several investigations until two groups filed a lawsuit over the policy. A judge ordered those investigations to be placed on hold until a trial can be held this summer.
The Los Angeles County policy also prohibits government travel to Florida because of that state's "Don't Say Gay" law, which regulates how elementary school teachers can deal with issues of gender identity and sexual orientation.
"It's really frightening what's happening across our country, in particular in Florida and Texas," said L.A. County Supervisor Hilda Solis. "We know that there is so much homophobia that is going on right now that we have to do more. I'm just glad I'm not going to be planning to go anytime soon to Texas or Florida.
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