Blog

  June 12 will forever be one of the hardest days for the LGBTQ community. On this day in 2016, hate walked into Pulse Nightclub in Orlando and opened fire. Forty-nine souls, guilty of nothing more than being themselves, were taken that night. Today and every day, we grieve for the futures they deserved but were robbed of. The attack on Pulse changed how we see the fight for equality. If we are going to create a world where the next generation of LGBTQ folks are safe, we will have to uproot hatred, discrimination, and violence of all kinds in our culture.

  St. Petersburg, FL - In a historic vote, the St. Petersburg City Council recognized majority LGBTQ-owned businesses and will include them in the city’s Small Business Enterprise program. The move will help to ensure that majority LGBTQ-owned entities, like other minority-owned businesses, are competitive in procuring city contracts.

  Orlando, FL - Advocacy groups and organizations affiliated with homeless facilities denounce the Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of homeless shelter rights and protections for the transgender community and stand together in support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Equal Access Rule.

  School’s out for the summer — and we’re joining students, teachers, and administrators in celebrating the end of another school year! Reflecting on this whirlwind of a year... I have to say, I am incredibly proud of what our Safe & Healthy Schools program has accomplished. It’s because of the dedication of Equality Florida Supporters to create a better world for LGBTQ youth that has allowed us to make such significant strides forward!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 31, 2019 Media Contact: Brandon Wolf, Equality Florida Media Relations Manager [email protected] ; 971-678-5707   Equality Florida Condemns FL Representative Mike Hill’s Homophobic Remarks

GAINESVILLE, FL -

  Advocacy groups and organizations affiliated with homeless facilities denounce the Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of homeless shelter rights and protections for the transgender community and stand together in support of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Equal Access Rule.

 

 

Tremendous Strides Made and Enduring Challenges Remain for our LGBTQ Community in the 2019 Legislative Session By Joe Saunders, Equality Florida Senior Political Director

TAMPA, Fla — Today, Equality Florida Action PAC’s spotlight candidate of 2019 made LGBTQ history today as Tampa’s first LGBTQ mayor. Former Tampa Police Chief and LGBTQ trailblazer Jane Castor finished the night with over 70% of the vote, defeating a self-funded millionaire who spent millions of dollars on attack ads and an aggressive smear campaign.

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Today the U.S. Supreme Court announced it will review three cases regarding whether federal nondiscrimination law applies to LGBTQ people. Numerous cases have held that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, discrimination against people based on sexual orientation and gender identity is sex discrimination and violates federal law. With these cases, R.G. & G.R. Harris Funeral Homes v. EEOC & Aimee Stephens, Bostock v. Clayton County, and Altitude Express, Inc. v.

As a Safe & Healthy Schools team member with Equality Florida, I usually spend the majority of my time in schools, with administrators and teachers, and with students and their families.

As I raced through the crowded halls of the Florida Capitol building, attempting to find the office of a senator from South Florida, bewilderment crept over me. What was I doing here?

Major Implications for Florida Conversion Therapy Cases Pending Review

Lobbying is a crucial piece of political activism that often goes undiscussed and unrecognized.

More than 70 Legislators Back Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations Protections for Florida LGBTQ Residents and Visitors Tallahassee, Fla. –– This week the Florida Competitive Workforce Act cleared a historic milestone of support with the bipartisan cosponsorship of 73 legislators, the highest level of support for LGBTQ protections in state history. The bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Florida’s Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

  As an intern for the HIV Advocacy Project with Equality Florida, I had the opportunity to experience advocacy and public health on a new level.

(Written By: Gina Duncan, Equality Florida's Director of Transgender Equality)  

TAMPA, Fla. — Today, Equality Florida Action PAC and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced both organizations are backing Jane Castor in the runoff election for mayor of Tampa, Florida. If elected, Castor will make history as the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor.