No matter where we live or work, we all deserve to be seen, safe, and loved.
Recently, the NAACP released a travel advisory warning that “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the State of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of and the challenges faced by African Americans and other minorities.”
In addition to the NAACP travel advisory, the recent enactment of two new transphobic laws; HB1403 - which would allow medical professionals to refuse to treat our LGBTQIA labor family, and HB1521 which requires individual to use bathrooms that match their sex assigned at birth or face arrest, and the enactment of anti-immigrant law SB1718 which endangers undocumented families AND anyone that would provide shelter, support and/or transportation for undocumented families, SPFE elected leaders believe that it is unsafe for us to send our members to Florida for the NEA RA at this time.
In addition to being unsafe, it is also unethical for us, proud union members committed to repairing past harms resulting from systems of oppression, to spend member dues to support commerce in a state that does not value public educators, particularly those who are BIPOC and/or LGBTQIA+, especially since the NEA has chosen to patronize non-union hotels while choosing to hold the NEA RA in the state of Florida long after it became clear the level of hate some Florida lawmakers have for people that do not look like, or love like, them.
Based on these factors, the SPFE Executive Board passed the following motion: In support of our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ members, we withhold use of members' dues money to fund travel, hotel, or other expenses for the 2023 NEA RA being held in Florida.
We urge the National Education Association to cancel the 2023 RA or change to a virtual format, and use whatever funds can be recovered to support legislative efforts that supports our BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ union family in Florida and across the country.
