“Start your business here,” says Good Business Colorado, a progressive business organization that almost exclusively backs Democratic-sponsored bills such as paid family and medical leave. 

That message is not for Coloradans. It’s for Floridians, particularly those who are LGBTQ.

Good Business announced Wednesday it has launched an ad campaign entitled “Start Your Business Here” in Florida, with ads running in more than a dozen newspapers, including student newspapers at the University of Florida, University of South Florida and Miami-Dade College. 

The campaign, according to a news release, encourages employers and employees to come to Colorado where “we welcome your companies, your talent and your job-seekers!”

Debra Brown of Good Business said Wednesday in the news release that “a key reason for Colorado’s success is its strong workplace protections for LGBTQ employers and employees. That makes it easy to recruit and retain the diverse workforce that fosters an economy that is competitive in the global marketplace.”

Why Florida? Brown said LGBTQ business owners and employees lack Colorado’s comprehensive protections in employment, housing and public accommodations, and that’s an attractive incentive for businesses, new college graduates, job-seekers and allies. 

 “In Colorado,” the ad reads, “more than just our grass is protected; jobs are, too. We pride ourselves on our innovative businesses and the ability to be ourselves at work.”

Ads also will appear in digital formats.