America's largest LGBTQ+ rights organization has declared a national state of emergency.This comes just weeks away from when a series of laws restricting transgender health care, education, and public restrooms are set to go into effect. But there's already an impact, according to people living in Orlando and researchers who are following it all.Jeff Starks is a proud member of not only the Orlando business community, as the owner of Maffrey's Good Goods in Ivanhoe, but also Orlando's LGBTQ+ community. "I've been here 26 years, and since then, I've owned this business. For three years, being next to Hammered Lamb. And then once a month, they have a drag show," Starks said."I know that those particular days draw a huge crowd. It brings business into my shop," he said.But Starks says he's also spoken to LGBTQ+ customers and friends who are feeling more and more uneasy as a flurry of Florida laws is set to go into effect.Many consider the laws discriminatory. "I had two gals send me a note via Instagram who live in the U.K., and they said, 'Hey, we've heard what's going on in Florida. We want to check in on you and just see how you're doing,' which meant the world to me," Starks said.That concern, along with a wave of new laws, is why the Human Rights Campaign issued a national state of emergency. It's also why the organization's Cathryn Oakley says active allies are needed more than ever."Among the most important things that this report is doing is issuing a call to action for folks who maybe are a little bit more on the sidelines of this issue but who do believe that the world should be a place where people can go about their lives without fear of discrimination, harassment, and violence simply because of who they are," Oakley said.The impact of laws already passed can be measured, according to professor Abby E. Goldberg from Clark University.She conducted studies with LGBTQ families three and six months after the Parental Rights in Education law was passed."So February, March, April of 2023. I surveyed LGBTQ + parents in Florida, over 100, to find out how they were feeling now," she said. "And I found that about two-thirds of them wanted to move and that 25% of them had taken steps to move."Mayor Buddy Dyer told WESH 2 that while LGBTQ+ travel warnings have been issued for the state of Florida, he hopes Orlando can be an exception."I truly feel like we're in this special little bubble here in Orlando where, you know, we're not immune from, you know, things that are not kind here. But for the most part, Orlando is truly a safe haven," Starks said.Top headlines: Officials arrest Ocala woman accused of fatally shooting neighbor through door Father dies after saving son, friends from rip current in Daytona Beach Sheriff: Masked robbers break into Polk County home with kids inside, leave empty-handed