ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer is speaking out about new laws going into effect in Florida ahead of his next State of the City Address.
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The address will be his first since 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.
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More recently, Governor Ron DeSantis has made his stance on so-called “woke” ideologies clear.
“Ultimately woke represents a war on the truth,” DeSantis said recently. “Well, since work represents a war on the truth, we in Florida are waging a war on woke.”
He’s done so by passing a number of new laws. From his so-called “Bathroom Bill” to the “Stope WOKE Act,” the new laws have been met with criticism from LGBTQ+ advocates, educators and other groups like the NAACP, which went as far as warning marginalized groups not to travel or relocate to Florida at all.
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“I don’t think the NAACP”s position is a surprise to anyone,” Mayor Dyer said in response to the travel advisory.
Excited to deliver my annual State of the City address Wednesday. I loved having the opportunity to offer a preview to and get feedback from some neighborhood leaders, who are so active and engaged in our community. pic.twitter.com/yBcavNTerD
— Mayor Buddy Dyer (@orlandomayor) May 23, 2023
With his first State of the City address since 2019 scheduled for Wednesday morning, Dyer says he’s found himself doing damage control.
“I wish they would sign an amendment saying, ‘regardless of what they say about Florida doesn’t affect Orlando,’” Dyer said. “We are still that great city that embraces diversity and embraces all.”
Dyer says he prides himself on making Orlando accessible for everyone, no matter their socio-economic status, gender or race. It’s a topic he plans to tackle during Wednesday’s address.
The address is scheduled to start at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre on Lake Formosa Drive.
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