As Florida lawmakers provide a new tax package as incentive for films to be made within the state, film companies are required to follow a strict list of “family friendly” guidelines, particularly involving the exclusion of gay characters.
The state’s goal is to invest money in film companies to continue producing successful films while ensuring “classic family values”. However, according to gay rights groups, not only are such values not necessarily the norm today, but this plan will only hurt Florida’s economy.
“Instituting 1950s-style movie censorship does nothing to support real-life families or help Florida’s struggling economy,” Ted Howard, executive director for Organizations United Together, a Florida LGBT community group, told the Palm Beach Post.
Florida Republicans, such as state Rep. Stephen Precourt, are still pushing the incentives and the anti-gay guidelines forward, saying providing the tax to movies with gay characters would not be something the state would want to invest in.
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Olivia Stephens
