Openly queer, proudly black, nonconforming – those are the folks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns other “normal” Floridians about. Our children should grow up normal, he often claims in the name of freedom and parental rights. However, the deviant Florida DeSantis likes to disparage still exists and is going strong.
We all know the stereotypical image of the Sunshine State. Beaches populated by wholesome parents with their kids, seniors playing golf, theme parks full of happy families and tourists. There is also the image of a vibrant and diverse Southern college culture. Yet those images rarely include the full history and diversity of the Sunshine State. Truthful African American history cannot be taught in K-12 schools (“slaves learned valuable skills” is the new mantra), sexual and LBGTQ+ topics and related books are banned in classrooms (the “don’t say gay” agenda), and public universities are not officially allowed to promote diversity (that is now “discrimination”).
The following photos, all taken in Tallahassee, document that not all Floridians follow the MAGA mainstream and that the stereotypical idea of the Sunshine State as a wholesome haven for “normal” folks and families is a marketing mirage.
The Unknown Florida 
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