New York, NY - The Big Apple—or as the mayor said, the “City of Stonewall”—is launching a new ad campaign against Florida’s controversial bill dubbed by opponents as “Don’t Say Gay.”
“We are going to loudly show our support and say to those who are living in Florida, we want you here in New York,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams, announcing the launch of the city’s newest campaign on Monday (April 4).
Adams said the city is partnering with companies to erect a series of billboards in some of Florida’s biggest markets—including Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach—for eight whole weeks, through May 29. The billboards will also cost NYC’s taxpayers nothing as the campaign is funded by the advertising firm Kinetic.
The billboards will contain phrases, such as “People say a lot of ridiculous things in New York. ‘Don’t Say Gay’ isn’t one of them.” Another billboard offers the message “Come to the city where you can say what you want,” which is surrounded by the word “gay.”
Some who attended the announcement weren’t shy about their comments on the bill, or Governor Ron DeSantis, who was a major supporter of the bill.
“I’ll say it because the mayor probably won’t, but I also want to give a big F-U to Governor Ron DeSantis for his lack of leadership and standing in solidarity to the LGBTQ community,” said Chi Ossé (D-Crown Heights), an openly-queer city councilmember who represents New York’s 36th district, which is mostly based in the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant.
The bill—HB 1557—will prohibit instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third-grade. It will also prohibit such instruction in older grades if the material “is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate” in accordance with state academic standards. The bill also grants parents the power to sue school districts for violations of the measure. While its supporters have claimed the bill is about reinforcing parental rights in Florida, its opponents say it will harm LGBTQ children.
Adams, however, is not without his own controversy surrounding the LGBTQ+ community. Earlier this year, critics spoke out against Adams after he appointed two pastors who have opposed gay rights to his administration, angering LGBTQ+ advocates. A report from Politico says he’s come under fire for his hiring choices in the past; which he defended by saying “because I’m the mayor.”
Adams also spoke in favor of same-sex marriage in 2009 during his time as a member of the New York State Senate.
