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1,300 Businesses Across Florida Declare They Are “Open to All” Businesses Large and Small Across the Sunshine State Join National Campaign and Publicly Commit to Serving Everyone on Equal Terms

A bill that threatens to repeal every local LGBTQ inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance and conversion therapy ban in Florida was heard on March 14 in the second of three committee stops before a final vote in the House. The bad news: The bill is moving forward with an amendment that falls short of eliminating the threat.

A sweeping preemption measure would repeal local protections for 13 million Floridians, sparking economic backlash

  Tampa, FL - Jane Castor, Equality Florida’s top spotlight candidate of 2019, is one step closer to making LGBTQ history as Tampa’s first out lesbian mayor. Castor garnered 48% of the vote, coming in first in a crowded field of 7 candidates, and will head to a runoff election on April 23rd where she will face wealthy businessman David Straz.

(As of March 5, 2019)

Tallahassee, FL - Legislation to bring Florida’s existing HIV criminalization statutes into alignment with current science successfully passed out of its first committee hearing at the Florida Capitol yesterday. The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 10-3 to advance the legislation (HB 79) after hearing from House bill sponsor Representative Nick Duran (D - Miami) and HIV advocates on the need for reform.

HB 3 Could Jeopardize LGBTQ and Other Local Protections

  Written By: Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida   If you’ve never travelled to Tallahassee to lobby for LGBTQ equality, this is the year to show up and call on leaders to include our community as equals in the state’s civil rights statute.

 

Equality Florida is proud to announce our Spring 2019 Intern Cohort! We have representation from all over the state, including Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Lakeland, and Tampa Bay! Learn more about our interns and help us welcome them to the team!

Fort Lauderdale — This week President Trump announced a goal of ending HIV transmissions in the U.S. by 2030. For HIV advocates around the country, eradicating HIV has been a viable goal for years since we now have the tools to stop transmissions. Unfortunately, standing in the way of HIV advocates — and now the Trump-Pence administration — is the administration itself. Since taking office, this administration has made headlines in the HIV field for harmful policies directly contradicting the President’s recent hopeful statement.

Judge Preliminarily Green-Lights Lawsuit Against Conversion Therapy Ban Florida Case Could Proceed Despite Two Federal Circuits Rejecting Similar Challenges

 

On January 24, 2019, the Human Rights Campaign, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights, the ACLU of Florida, the National Center for Transgender Equality, QLatinX, Florida Trans Proud, TransAction Florida, and Equality Florida released the following statement in support of nondiscrimination protections in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The organizations reaffirm their support for fully-inclusive, comprehensive protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Tallahassee — Today Senator Darryl Rouson (D - St. Petersburg) and Representative Jennifer Webb (D - St. Petersburg) filed HB 485 and SB 430, comprehensive legislation to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Floridians under Florida’s existing Civil Rights Act.

January 22, 2019 — Today the U.S. Supreme Court issued an order allowing the Trump administration’s transgender military ban to go into effect temporarily while challenges to the policy continue in federal courts. Equality Florida Director of Transgender Equality Gina Duncan issued the following statement in response:

Tallahassee, FL -- Equality Florida has called for a meeting with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, following the governor’s issuance of an Executive order that excludes LGBTQ protections.

Tallahassee, FL -- Today Equality Florida’s TransAction Network hosted a vigil in the Florida State Capitol to recognize Transgender Day of Remembrance and Visibility. The TransAction Network joins thousands around the world and across Florida to mourn transgender and gender non-conforming lives taken due to transphobia and trans-related violence.

TALLAHASSEE — As Amazon announced locations for its new headquarters today, reports emerged that Florida’s bid was harmed by the state’s lack of LGBTQ protections. USA Today analyzed the weaknesses of cities that did not make the cut, including Miami. The article reported, “While it's an excellent gateway to Latin America and already an international business hub, it has an underdeveloped rapid transit system and the nation's fifth-worst traffic, according to INRIX. Florida also doesn't have protections for lesbian and gay workers.”