Hollywood Pressure Might Kill Florida's Proposed Gay Character Ban

We might get the Miami-themed episode of Modern Family yet.

​Hollywood would be happy to take Florida's tax breaks, but it's not exactly thrilled about controversial proposed legislation that would ban productions featuring GLBT characters from receiving state assistance.

While the bill would ultimately up the amount of incentives to lure film and television productions to Florida, the "Family Friendly" clause, which included the gay character ban, was met with a heavy sigh and an exaggerated eye roll from the film industry's capital.

"It could serve as a major deterrent to Florida," entertainment lawyer Peter Dekom told the LA Times. "There are a lot of actors and high-profile producers who have a powerful belief in gay rights and equal treatment under the law."

Of course, the man who proposed the bill, Rep. Stephen Precourt, has a slightly more naive take:

"Think of it like Mayberry," Precourt said, invoking the fictional community that was the setting for The Andy Griffith Show, the iconic 1960s sitcom. "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."

You know, even The Andy Griffith Show has an episode called "Floyd, The Gay Deceiver."

It seems, though, that Hollywood might win against a delusional, homophobic state representative still living in the '60s. It's believed the Senate later this week will strip the controversial language from the bill, and the House might follow suit.