‘Florida’s the more favorable state’: Mayor Curry responds to new ‘Don’t Say Gay’ billboard campaign

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — New billboards have begun popping up this week in major cities across Florida, including Jacksonville that are part ad-campaign and part activism.

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The campaign was launched by New York City Mayor Eric Adams.

The billboards include messaging that encourage people to leave Florida and move to New York City. They were put up after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which opponents have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.

It prohibits classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade.

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In an Action News Jax exclusive, reporter Kennedy Dendy spoke with Mayor Curry Tuesday to hear his thoughts.

“It’s the mayor’s prerogative to try to recruit people back to his city, because he’s lost many people and I believe will continue to,” Curry said.

He said people who want to be in Florida will stay.

“Florida’s the more favorable state,” Curry said. “Jacksonville’s the more favorable city. I welcome the competition. I think we’re going to win them.”

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Mayor Curry believes the relocation of thousands from the northeast to Florida says a lot about our state’s quality of life, environment and people who already live here.

“A lot of people have relocated from all over the country to Florida, specifically to Jacksonville, in the last couple of years,” Curry said.

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On Tuesday, the press secretary for Governor Ron DeSantis shared her thoughts with USA TODAY Network Florida.

“Mayor Adams is doing Florida a favor,” Christina Pushaw, DeSantis’ press secretary, told USA TODAY Network Florida. “If anyone is so upset about our governor defending parental rights that they want to leave Florida for a crime-ridden socialist dystopia, our state will be better off without them. In fact, the mayor should pay for their flights to NYC!”

The digital billboards can be seen in Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach from April 4 through May 29.

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