Florida bill seeks to deny tax credits to films that feature gay characters

Filed: Monday, March 8, 2010

Florida bill seeks to deny tax credits to films that feature gay characters

File this under "WTF?"

Florida lawmakers are hoping to pass a $75 million incentive package to attract movie studios to film in the sunshine state, but a little noticed provision could deny tax credits to movies that feature gay characters or other “non-traditional" families.

Current state law gives tax credits on productions that are "family friendly," i.e. no smoking, sex, nudity, or profane language.

But the new bill, proposed by Republican Stephen Precourt, would not only increase the tax credit, but expand the field of disqualified productions to include any which "exhibit or imply any act" of "non-traditional family values" and films with "gratuitous violence."

Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger said non-traditional family values could include anything from "drug abuse to excessive drunkenness to homosexual families."

(That's what he said -- users, boozers and queers.)

"Let me define it in the positive," said Gov. Charlie Crist. "A traditional family is a marriage between a man and a woman. That's traditional."

Precourt claimed he's not targeting the gay community, but said he doesn't want to invest public dollars in shows with gay characters.