Conservatives issue travel warnings against California, Minnesota

The NAACP may have started something with its advisory warning travelers against visiting red-state Florida.
 
The American Principles Project put out a warning Wednesday advising families against visiting California and Minnesota “due to dangerous attempts by their governments aimed at overriding parental rights.”
 
Terry Schilling, who chairs the project, cited “trans refuge state” laws passed in the two blue states in response to red-state bans on gender-identity drugs and surgeries for minor children.
 
The advisory came a few days after the NAACP Board of Directors issued a travel advisory for Florida over the state’s “aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”
 
“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 communities of color,” said the NAACP notice.
 
The advisory prompted Florida Republican Party Chairman Christian Ziegler to point out that Leon W. Russell, who chairs the NAACP board, lives in Tampa.
 
“If you think our state is so bad, the @FloridaGOP will help with moving costs,” quipped Mr. Ziegler on Twitter.
 
A bevy of left-wing groups jumped on the Florida travel-advisory bandwagon, including the Human Rights Campaign, League of United Latin American Citizens, Florida Immigrant Coalition and Equality Florida.
 
Also issuing a warning about the Sunshine State was Sen. Rick Scott, Florida Republican, who agreed that Florida is “openly hostile” – to socialists.
 
“Let me be clear – any attempts to spread the oppression and poverty that Socialism always brings will be rebuffed by the people of Florida,” Mr. Scott said. “Travelers should be aware that attempts to spread Socialism in north Florida will fail and be met with laughter and mockery.”
 
In his travel advisory, Mr. Schilling brought up worries about the parental-rights implications of the California and Minnesota laws when it comes to gender-transition therapy and treatment for minor children.
 
“Both states have recently passed laws which legal experts argue could result in even out-of-state parents losing custody of their children,” said Mr. Schilling. “These laws give state family courts the power to take temporary emergency jurisdiction over a minor coming into the state to access sex-change drugs or surgical procedures, regardless of if the minor is traveling from another state.”
 
He cited bills passed last year in California and Minnesota making each a “trans refuge state” for families seeking gender-transition treatment for their minor children by crossing state lines from states that ban such drugs and surgeries for those under 18.
 
Advocates said the laws provide protections for parents and children from extradition, prosecution and custody threats in their home states. Critics say the measures opens the door for a host of abuses, including giving runaway children an avenue to undergo treatment against their parents’ wishes.
 
Right-tilting commentators on social media had plenty of suggestions for travel advisories, starting with California, New York and Illinois.
 
“Can we get them to issue the same travel advisory for Texas?” asked one commentator. “California is moving here.”