Lake Worth Beach LGBTQIA+ Safe Haven By: Jennifer Kate

I'm back with yet another blog, and this time, I'm going back to my roots with an LGBTQIA+ blog, which I'm very excited about. This story may seem small in the bigger picture, but I promise this is a huge victory. If you need to know who I am, I'm Jennifer Kate, a producer for Fruity Serial here on the Empty The Bench Podcast Network.

Let's jump right into the story or the news, I should say, but anyway, the South Florida city of Lake Worth Beach has become the state's first to declare itself a haven for LGBTQIA+ people and their families. On Tuesday, City commissioners voted unanimously to declare the city a safe haven for LGBTQIA+ people, approving a resolution reiterating the city's commitment to "protecting human rights for all individuals." "The City of Lake Worth Beach shall now and forever be considered a safe place, a sanctuary, a welcoming and supportive city for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families to live in peace and comfort." A similar proposal is now underway in Tallahassee. Florida Legislatures have been passing bills that have made people feel unwanted, affecting both locals and visitors.

Now let me give my opinion quickly. I think this is a huge deal for not only LGBTQIA people but also for the state of Florida as a whole. If you guys know anything about Florida, you know all the issues that are going on surrounding the LGBTQIA people and the LGBTQIA community as a whole. I won't get into the politics of all the nonsense going on, but I know that this small victory is a huge step in the right direction. In the grand scheme of things, this seems very small, but this is a huge victory for those of us who are a part of the LGBTQIA community. Sadly, it's 2023, and we are still fighting for basic rights to love who we love and be able to have the same jobs, medical rights, and so on. Florida still has a long way to go with all the "don't say gay bill" nonsense, but I'm hoping this small victory will spark more change in Florida.

That should wrap it up for this blog. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog, and I will catch you guys in the next one.