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By Jesse Monteagudo
Photos: Badpuppy Galleries
Recently People magazine listed the State of Florida as one of the 25
most intriguing "people" of 2000. Certainly the Sunshine State's antics made
it worth-watching during Y2K.
First there was the Elián Gonzalez saga, where the custody of a six-year old child tore a community apart. Then there was the presidential vote in Florida, where the leadership of the free world was determined by miscast butterfly ballots, dimpled chads, and politicized judges. Both events portrayed Florida in a less-than favorable light. I lived in Florida since 1964, more than 3/4 of my life, which makes me virtually a native Floridian. It also begs the question of why I stayed. There were certainly several points in my life where I could have moved to New York or San Francisco; places that are more compatible with my lifestyles and interests. But the fact is that I am a creature of habit--radical in principle but conservative in practice--who likes living in Florida and who wouldn't dream of living anywhere else. I love Florida--though there quite a few Floridians I can live without. Unfortunately, most of those undesirable Floridians are in government. Florida is a great state with many bad leaders. And some horrible laws. The Sunshine State is the only entity on the planet (that I know of) that has the right to execute its residents and visitors inscribed in its Constitution (in an amendment passed by the voters in 1998). It is the state with the most convicted felons (that is, single Black men) who served their time but who are still not allowed to vote.
But not even Floridians could destroy Florida, though God knows they tried their best to turn what writer Mark Derr called "some kind of paradise" into a big suburban condo/ mall. And Florida's laws, no matter how antiquated, repressive or ridiculous, cannot keep away the tourists. Even the gay Spartacus guide admits that "Laws don't seem to be everything in life. Hetero and homosexual oral and anal sex is prohibited in Florida, and yet it is today the prime state for gay holiday makers." Our subtropical climate, sunny beaches, lush wildlife, Everglades and Biscayne National Parks and the nearby Florida Keys combine with the promise of attractive men and women to attract thousands of tourists who come here to commit some of the acts that are prohibited by the Florida Statutes. Unfortunately, our law enforcement system, like our tax structure, depends highly upon the contributions of tourists. I should point out, as if the recent election hasn't done it already, that there is more than one Florida. The Sunshine State is generally divided between a conservative north-and-west that controls the government and makes the laws and a progressive south-and-east that does its best to ignore the mess that the other Floridians create. The conservative north-and-west is settled, Republican and WASP. It helped elect the GOP Legislature and joyously gave its votes to all the Bushes. The progressive south-and-east is mobile, Democrat and full of ethnic and sexual minorities. It sends Democrats to Tallahassee --only to be trampled by the GOP juggernaut - elected Bill Nelson and might have elected Al Gore. This division is simplistic and must make room for many exceptions, of course. The "progressive' south-and-east is the home of conservative Cuban exiles and Florida Governor Jeb Bush, while the "conservative" north-and-west includes Gainesville and the University of Florida.
Still, there is much to say about the "other Florida", and I have nothing but respect for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who make their homes and communities in places like Pensacola, Ocala, Sarasota (home of Secretary of State Katherine Harris) and Fort Myers. Groups like Equality Florida exist to remind us south Floridians that not all of Florida is like Key West, South Beach or Wilton Manors; and that whatever happens in distant Tallahassee will affect all of us. Barbara Grier and Donna J. McBride in Tallahassee, Jack Nichols in Cocoa Beach and Nadine Smith in Tampa remind us that not all of our activist energy resides in the gay ghettoes of the Gold Coast. Florida is a wonderful state, and I recommend that all of you who live elsewhere come down and visit us. As for those of us who live here, we will continue to do our best to make this a better place to live. In spite of everything, I think it's worth it. |
I, of course, am a product of the "progressive", south-and-east Florida.
I am gay, Jewish, Cuban but liberal, and a Democrat who often thinks to the
left of his party. Though I enjoy visiting the conservative north-and-west
now and then, I wouldn't dream of living there.
© 1997-2000 BEI