Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) didn't directly reference LGBTQ or Hispanic people in an annual order issued Thursday to honor the victims of the 2016 mass shooting at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, a substantial omission that echoes recent actions by President Trump’s administration against diversity and inclusion.

DeSantis, who has led the state since 2019 and sought the 2024 Republican nomination for president, has mentioned the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities — the groups most devastated by the attack that killed 49 and injured dozens more — in near identical orders issued during each of his last five years in office.

In those statements, DeSantis called the massacre “a horrific act of terrorism against the LGBTQ and Hispanic communities.” Thursday’s order says the attack was “a horrific act of terrorism” without mentioning any specific groups.

In 2019, his first year as governor, DeSantis was forced to issue an amended proclamation after an initial statement that also omitted references to LGBTQ people attracted widespread backlash. He said at the time that he was “not involved” in drafting the first proclamation and requested his office issue a new one once he became aware of the........

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