A Democratic Representative has removed
himself as co-sponsor of a
measure that would likely exclude films with gay characters from a
state supported incentive package aimed at the film industry being
considered by Florida lawmakers, the Palm Beach Post reported.
Representative Ari Porth removed his
name from the House version of the bill on Monday after the Post
reported on the bill.
“I believe in the film industry tax
incentives, but was uncomfortable with provisions limiting the field
of qualified recipients,” Porth told the paper. “I hope to be
able to support the measure in the future.”
The $75 million package of tax credits
and incentives discourages the production of movies that include
depictions of gay families. The bill's so-called family-friendly tax
credit would only be available to films that do not exhibit or imply
“nontraditional family values.”
The measure's House version had
attracted 25 co-sponsors, including 7 Democrats, Porth among them.