Gays in Film Could Mean no Tax Credit

(AP)  Movie and TV productions with gay characters could be ineligible for a tax credit being considered in the state House.

Current state law grants tax credits on productions considered "family friendly" - with no smoking, sex, nudity or profane language.

The proposal by Republican Rep. Stephen Precourt of Orlando would increase the credit and expand the field of disqualified productions as those that include any "exhibit or implied act" of nontraditional family values and gratuitous violence.

Precourt says he's not targeting the gay community but that shows with gay characters would not be something he'd want "to invest public dollars in."

Florida Together director Ted Howard says "instituting 1950s-style movie censorship does nothing to support real-life families."

[TizzyEnt]

I am a filmmaker in Florida and I am frankly disgusted by this provision. The good news is this law has not passed yet so there is still time to act.

I have started an online petition gathering signatures in protest of this provision. Let me make clear, Florida filmmakers are NOT supporting this stipulation.

Below is a link to said petition. Leave your name and comments or remain anonymous if you prefer. All the signatures collected will be forwarded to ALL of the Florida House Representatives. Already thanks to social networking sites like Twitter I have had Actress Denise Richards (Wild Things, The World is not Enough) Writer/Director James Gunn (Dawn of the Dead, Slither) and Producer Ted Hope (Adventureland, 21 Grams) give their signatures and promote the petition. I expect the list of celebrities who are opposed to this to grow as word spreads.

Anything you can do to share this link is most appreciated, thank you.

Michael McWhorter

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/no_florida_film_censorship/

[kansas1946]

Precourt says he's not targeting the gay community but that shows with gay characters would not be something he'd want "to invest public dollars in."
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Hopefully, this bigoted piece of legislation will be soundly defeated. Why is it that Republicans just can't keep their hatred at home. We don't care if you hate gays Mr. Precourt, but keep it out of the state house.

[steeepe]

Typical right-wing bigotry. They want the government to deregulate business but intrude in personal behavior. And they call Obama Big Brother!

[Marine_Vet]

Wow. Do we have such a short memory? This kind of stuff was tried to keep down blacks, then Jews, then inter-racial couples and now gays. Discrimination is wrong and hopefully the Florida government will vote down this bigotry.

[liberalme]

Florida is an Ass backward state. Loaded with thumpers and bigots.

Let the hate mongers begin, this must mean they're almost through with Obama.

They're not happy unless they have something or someone to hate---bunch of jerks.

[hateisafourletterword]

This has to be one of the dumbest laws ever proposed. Being gay is not a crime. Being a bigot is shameful although not illegal.

Giving tax breaks in this economic climate for movies does not seem too bright. These jobs are short and temporary at best and likely lead to no long-term jobs. If you want to fork over tax credits, it should be for sustainable jobs, not 3 month jobs.

[brianbwb2011]

That's cool, it only means more employment opportunities for audio, video, transport, catering, and the accompanying income tax revenues for states that aren't governed by the ASPD-afflicted.

Florida isn't the only state with beaches, perhaps the success of "Miami Vice" went to their heads

[afmcalax]

Just another example of the hate that infects the Republican Party. As Americans do we really want these type of people leading a diverse 21st century country? I hope not.

[hateisafourletterword]

Not every conservative is this way so keep your stupid comments to yourself too. I condemned this proposal as do many conservatives.

[vjhahn]

Gay people don't have family values? What a crock. Some in the heterosexual community complain that gay people are the cause of the breakdown of the family, say that gay people are promiscuous, and are in unstable relationships. These are the very same people that want to stop gays and lesbians from marrying; the very institution that promotes stable, monogamous, healthy relationships. You want to keep us marginalized so that you can support discriminatory laws like this one.

[cleric60]

I don't think taxpayers should have to support movies, etc with their tax $$$$$$. Let the entertainment market support itself, period!

[TizzyEnt]

Just FYI, Taxpayers dont "pay" and Precourts statement is very misleading. What filmmakers receive is a tax exemption. They still pay taxes, just lesser. You may say, "Don't give them a break" but the simple fact is other countries (IE: Canada, New Zealand) do give breaks.

The show "Burn Notice" has paid over $25million to Florida residence as Cast and crew and booked over 7,000 nights in hotels. Not to mention gas by trucks, cars and generators, food purchases ect. Literally Millions and Millions of dollars spent in Florida in exchange for a 2% sales break. Not a bad deal for them OR the people of Florida.