Only in the Keys

I don't think that the Divorce Rose' should in any way cost more than the Referee Tears.

Divirce's always cost a lot more than making a Ref cry.....

New law cuts county funding for DEI, LGBTQ+ events in Florida Keys​

Story by Sarah Perkel, USA TODAY NETWORK

Monroe County funding intended to promote tourism will no longer be available to LGBTQ+ events in the Keys.

The change comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law on April 22 that “prohibits counties from funding, promoting, or taking official action related to DEI efforts,” and specifically blocks the county from “promoting or providing preferential treatment or special benefits” to a person or group based on their race, sex, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation, according to a May 5 press release.

Monroe County and the Tourist Development Council — intended to manage the county’s tourism marketing efforts — are now “mandated to review event grant applications and funding allocations” to comply with the new state law.

Key West Pride will receive funding this year but not the next, given the effective date of the law is January 1, 2027. It's one of several events affected.

“The legislation also establishes enforcement provisions, including potential legal action by residents against counties that violate the law, and penalties for elected officials, including removal from office for misfeasance,” reads the release. “Monroe County emphasizes that these changes are not discretionary and are required to comply with state law.”

Rob Dougherty, executive director of the Key West Business Guild — a non-profit group dedicated to promoting LGBTQ+ tourism in Key West — said the change will result in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars in event funding. The guild operates the Gay Key West Visitor Center and helps organize Key West Pride.

“Off the top of my head, we’re going to lose $75,000 for Pride, $39,500 for Womenfest and $25,000 for Tropical Heat,” Dougherty said. The TDC also provided $58,000 per year to help fund the Gay Key West Visitors Center, he added.

Entire Article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/othe...in-florida-keys/ar-AA23cPcO?ocid=BingNewsSerp

Wait, does this mean they will cut funding for Bobcat's softball league?

The joke is that for some reason, the softball players on Bobcat's team were calling me one year like 10-15 years ago.

A fabulous bunch of folks.

Bobcat's not gay.
He's just photography-curious.

My Mom asked Me " You live in KW...Never Married....It's OK if You're gay.....I told Her ..."I'm not gay....I'm a Loser"

I think that hurt Her...

There are jokes left to make here, but it's not the same without me sitting there grinning at you within your punching range so I'm just gonna stop.

1946 – Louis Taylor and his pony Napoleon were struck by an automobile as they rode down North Roosevelt Boulevard in Key West. Upon seeing headlights approaching, Taylor guided his steed close to the curb, but the car struck them anyway. Taylor was thrown 50 feet and his knee damaged; Napoleon was killed.
1956 – Captain Tommy Lones of the charter boat Gulf Stream caught a 2,300-pound great white shark while fishing in 110 feet of water off the Western Dry Rocks.