Why is the Florida Legislature obsessed with hurting the LGBTQ+ community?

Legislature again targets LGBTQ+ community

The Jan. 10 Herald-Tribune reported all the bills focused on the LGBTQ+ community. So many bills beg the question, “Why?”

They reek of fascism.

This is not hyperbole; any history student can cite the similarities. If it is about protecting children, priests have a more documented history as child predators than the LGBTQ+ community. But there are already laws for that.  So again, “Why?”

Perhaps it is like the Zieglers: Scream morality in public, but in private enjoy the sexual freedoms afforded all human beings.  It certainly is not about “Christian” values, where the main theme is love and compassion for all human beings.

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Maybe it is the same as with racists and bigots – just hate and ignorance because some human beings are different. Or are those proposing these bills just so insecure about their own sexuality, they want to eliminate any risk of joining the LGBTQ+ community?

I do not know, but I know how to stop it.

If Florida residents whose spiritual tenets involve love and compassion for all human beings vote their conscience – and not an ideology – then perhaps in 2024 we can turn from "Fascist Florida" back to the Sunshine State.

Christopher Laurent, Longboat Key

To protect kids, restrict guns, not people

I read with some concern your Jan. 10 article, “Florida GOP increasing anti-LGBTQ bills.” I note that one of the main reasons given for these bills is to protect our children from these people and their supposedly nefarious actions.

I would ask this question of the bills’ sponsors:

If you are so concerned about the welfare of our children, why are you not proposing to ban semiautomatic assault weapons and limit access to handguns?

This would do far more to protect our children than limiting the rights of the LGBTQ community.

I ask our Republican leaders to focus on what really matters to our children’s safety.

Donald Ullmann, Longboat Key

Consider a different kind of insurance

The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about a new kind of insurance. It is called parametric insurance and has a defined payout.

It uses on-the-ground sensors that trigger an automatic payout (agreed upon by the customer and insurance company beforehand) when a catastrophe occurs.

It is AI-driven and does not utilize adjusters or insurance company managers who might alter the calculations of adjusters. This results in savings for both customers and companies.

And while we are on that subject, why have there been no answers from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis about the nefarious behavior of the homeowners insurance companies in Florida who have lowballed payments or denied claims altogether?

With the Legislature considering insurance shortly, I urge them to look into companies such as Plover Parametrics in order to get this matter under control for Florida homeowners, who are in dire need of rate relief.

Erika Veit, Venice

Biden better choice to handle our enemies

I must respectfully disagree with a Jan. 9 letter writer regarding his opinion that former President Donald Trump is the only politician who can stand up to Iran, North Korea, China and Russia (“Trump tough enough to fight US enemies”).

Trump has repeatedly praised and lauded dictators.

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are two of the most experienced politicians, at the federal level, to serve in these offices. They have been fully briefed on foreign policy for decades.

Trump, meanwhile, is a reality TV performer who is hated in his home state because New Yorkers know him best.

Trump is a greater danger to our way of life than China, Russia, Iran or North Korea because he is a wannabe dictator, a failure at business, a coup leader (allegedly), an adjudicated rapist and a liar.

As far as being mean and tough, the only person Trump cares about is himself and he is showing increasing signs of senility, such as not remembering that World War II already occurred.

He is a pushover, in my opinion.

Elizabeth Wolfe, Sarasota

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Legislature obsessed with restricting LGBTQ+ community