Joe.My.God. LGBT News
The Orlando Sentinel reports:
Just days from the five-year remembrance of Orlando’s Pulse nightclub massacre, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed $150,000 in state funds that would have provided counseling for survivors — despite a budget that has $9.5 billion in reserves. And in what advocates describe as “war” on LGBTQ+ Floridians, the governor also eliminated $750,000 approved by the Florida Legislature for the Orlando-based Zebra Coalition to create housing for homeless gay and transgender youth.
The move comes one day after DeSantis signed a bill banning transgender athletes from competing in girls’ and women’s school sports. Neither the governor nor his press secretary responded Wednesday afternoon to a request to comment on the vetoes. A news release issued with the signed budget states, “We are also continuing to prioritize public health and mental well-being.”
Yesterday @GovRonDeSantis signed into law a bill attacking trans-kids. Now on the 2nd day of #Pride month he VETOES two #LGBTQ programs, one for homeless youth and the other for Pulse survivors’ mental health.
He’s a homophobic & transphobic man who should not be in office.
— Rep. Anna V. Eskamani ? (@AnnaForFlorida) June 2, 2021
Here’s @GovRonDeSantis in 2019, standing on hallowed ground, promising me that he would always support those of us impacted by the Pulse nightclub shooting.
Today, he vetoed mental health services for us. I will never forget. pic.twitter.com/huW8NJbVlP
— Brandon Wolf (@bjoewolf) June 2, 2021
Ron DeSantis champions a “balanced budget” with over ten billion dollars in reserves, yet vetoes funding for the survivors of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting, days before the 5 year remembrance of the shooting, and during #Pride2021.
This decision is absolutely repugnant.
— Aaron Parnas (@AaronParnas) June 2, 2021