GOP Florida lawmakers take aim at Mount Dora’s LGBTQ+ ‘Safe Place’ initiative

A Mount Dora program, which gives businesses the option to display a rainbow decal labeling their establishment as a safe place for LGBTQ+ crime victims, has come under fire from some state lawmakers, who said in a letter they would consider all “legislative, legal and executive options.”

The initiative was approved by the City Council in a unanimous vote last week, but now may be reconsidered after city officials received the letter signed by Republican Sen. Dennis Baxley, and Reps. Keith Truenow, Taylor Yarkosky and Stan McClain.

“We believe that you are putting the City of Mount Dora in the crosshairs of potentially detrimental and absolutely unnecessary, economic harm,” the letter posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, by Yarkosky read. “In light of what we have seen around this country in regards to the pushback and unprecedented financial harm to long standing American made companies such as Anheuser-Busch and Target Corporation, this local ‘Safe Place’ program is negligent, irresponsible and divisive at best.”

Such Safe Place programs are common throughout Central Florida, including ones facilitated by the Orlando Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.

The programs task participating businesses with posting the sticker, allowing crime victims to enter their establishment and stay there until law enforcement arrives, and assisting them in calling authorities, the agenda item shows.

In Mount Dora, about 33 miles northwest of Orlando, the idea was brought to the City Council by a resident, Mayor Crissy Stile said. Following the letter, moving forward with the Safe Place program may be revisited at a later meeting, she said.

The delegation’s letter posted Monday said the group would discuss it at an already-scheduled legislative meeting in Leesburg on Tuesday morning. Stile said she couldn’t attend on such short notice due to a prior appointment.

Yarkosky didn’t respond to an email about what actions were discussed.

In a Facebook post applauding the letter – claiming a “legislative wipeout INCOMING” – the Lake County Republican Party said the city “passed a woke program demanding local business owners display ‘Anti-LGBTQ+ hate crime stickers’ on the front doors of their businesses.”

However, the program clearly states it’s optional for businesses to participate.

“It’s definitely voluntary,” Stile said.

Democrats blasted the letter and the GOP lawmakers for taking aim at the program.

“This might be the weirdest letter I’ve ever read but also let LGBTQ+ exist and stop politicizing everything!” Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, posted on X. “So much manufactured panic from the right. Meanwhile families can’t even afford to live in Florida. Focus on that instead.”

The Mount Dora meeting last week drew about an hour of discussion. Police Chief Mike Gibson said he believes LGBTQ people underreport crime because of a distrust of law enforcement and sees the Safe Place initiative as a crime-reducing program.

He told the council there are 300 agencies with such programs and more than 7,000 businesses participating.

In their letter, the lawmakers said they had to “go back over 12 years to find reports in your area regarding any such bigotry, prejudice, or outright hate crimes being reported.”

“You are picking winners and losers in your city with this program and alienating otherwise friendly businesses and residents from one another on this basis of their participation, or lack thereof, in this virtue signaling program,” it reads. “Furthermore, in regards to the outcome on public safety, we believe you are in fact creating a less safe environment in Mount Dora, contrary to the intentions you proclaim.”

Henry Ollendick, president of the Triangle Connection, which offers social and service opportunities for LGBTQ people in Lake County, said Mount Dora draws hundreds of gay people each weekend from surrounding cities to its popular downtown, and the political climate is making them nervous.

“It’s a sticker. Business owners can put them up or not. Don’t focus on the color of the sticker,” he said.