Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
LA County Leaders Vote To Stop Travel To Texas And Florida Over Anti-LGBTQ+ Measures
Disney employee Nicholas Maldonado protesting outside of Walt Disney World on March 22 in Orlando.
(
Octavio Jones
/
Getty Images
)
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has voted to suspend all official travel to Texas and Florida after the two states took controversial steps targeting LGBTQ+ youth and their families.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the state’s Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender affirming treatments as child abuse. An appellate court has temporarily blocked the order from taking effect as a lawsuit works its way through the courts.
In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law what critics call the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity from kindergarten to third grade.
“This is no time to be enacting more legislation sort of designed to encourage more harassment and suffering and that's exactly what the states of Texas and Florida have done," said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl.
Support for LAist comes from
It’s not uncommon for the board to enact such travel bans when states pass laws that are at odds with the ones in L.A. and California, she said.
Exceptions will be made for trips in which the failure to travel would “seriously harm the county’s interests.”
The bans will only be lifted if the controversial law in Florida — or the order in Texas — is suspended or repealed.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons Thursday after suddenly shutting down six months ago. -
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
-
Censorship has long been controversial. But lately, the issue of who does and doesn’t have the right to restrict kids’ access to books has been heating up across the country in the so-called culture wars.
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
Best of LAist