Hoo boy.
Movies and TV shows with gay characters could be ineligible for a "family-friendly" tax credit in Florida under a little-noticed provision tucked into a $75 million incentive package that Republican House leaders hope will attract film and entertainment jobs to the state.
As a film production manager, I can testify to the power of state film tax incentives. They have been probably the single largest driver of film location decisions during the past decade. In any given year, the state with the highest tax incentive can expect a major influx of film and television projects. And while the long-term effectiveness of those incentives for the economies of individual states is up for debate (and the topic of a much longer diary), there is no question that their influence on film and television studios' short-term decisions is huge.
Aside from being particularly onerous to civil rights, the practical effect of Florida singling out "family friendly" (read: homophobic) projects for additional incentives is potentially twofold. On the one hand, it is likely to reduce the number of projects that choose Florida as a location, even if by a small amount. That's bad for Florida. On the other hand, it's also likely to cause "minor script changes" (read: making gay characters straight) to films and television shows that do choose to shoot in Florida. That's bad for civil rights.
Having watched the film development process unfold in all its awfulness, I can say that script changes made for business reasons are even more common than one might think. More often than not, they are made to ensure a specific rating from the MPAA. But they are also made to tailor films to states with good tax incentives. Why insist, for example, that your story be set in Oregon when it can just as easily be set in Connecticut, with its 42% tax credit, for nearly half the price?
State Rep Stephen Precourt (R-Orlando) is the mouth-breather behind this stealth legislation. But why let me ridicule him when he's already done such a good job of it himself:
The bill would prohibit productions with "nontraditional family values" from receiving a so-called family-friendly tax credit. But it doesn't define what "nontraditional family values" are, something the bill's sponsor had a hard time doing, too.
"Think of it as like Mayberry," state Rep. Stephen Precourt, R-Orlando, said, referring to The Andy Griffith Show. "That's when I grew up — the '60s. That's what life was like. I want Florida to be known for making those kinds of movies: Disney movies for kids and all that stuff. Like it used to be, you know?"
Yeah! Like is used to be. You know?
And lest you think that "nontraditional family values" is a definition that doesn't include homosexuality, let the Florida Family Policy Council clear that up for you:
Precourt's proposal would boost the credit from 2 percent to 5 percent and expand the list of taboos to include any "exhibit or implied act" of nontraditional family values and gratuitous violence.
Florida Family Policy Council President John Stemberger said nontraditional family values could include anything from "drug abuse to excessive drunkenness to homosexual families."
"It's a good concept to encourage people to produce more quality family entertainment in the state," Stemberger said. "It's a good thing."
Yup. It's good thing.
Still unconvinced that "nontraditional family values" refers to teh gays? Why not let confirmed heterosexual and (for now) Florida politician Charlie Crist set you straight:
"If they're not able to define what they intend by nontraditional family value, then it probably has no place in law," Equality Florida spokesman Brian Winfield said.
Several Republican leaders declined last week to define the term.
"Let me define it in the positive," said Gov. Charlie Crist, who wants lawmakers to approve a $55 million corporate income tax cut he has proposed. "A traditional family is a marriage between a man and a woman. That's traditional."
Charlie is nothing if not traditional.
The bill is cruising toward passage right now. But that's never stopped us before, right? Here are a few resources to get you started. I can't stick around for comments today, but please add to the list if you have other ways to direct action on this one:
Florida Energy and Utilities Policy Committee
(850) 487-1342
Rep. Stephen Precourt
(407) 355-5784 (Orlando office)
(850) 488-0256 (Tallahassee office)
steve.precourt@myfloridahouse.gov
Legislative Assistant: Kelsey Wohlman
District Secretary: Abigail Tyrrell
Charlie Crist
Citizen Services Hotline: (850) 488-4441
Executive Office of the Governor Switchboard: (850) 488-7146
Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com
Florida Together
Ted Howard
Phone: 813-817-6095
Media Contact: media@outfl.org / 813-817-6095
General Inquiries: info@outfl.org