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  Jacksonville Native and LGBTQ Leader Joins Equality Florida’s Staff Jimmy Midyette will lead Equality Florida’s development work in North Florida

  Orlando, FL - Tomorrow the nation will mark 5 years since the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub that left 49 mostly LGBTQ people of color dead. The remembrance comes amidst unprecedented backlash against LGBTQ Floridians led by Governor Ron DeSantis.

  We made a promise 5 years ago — to the victims, survivors and families of Pulse — that we would always #HonorThemWithAction. It’s not a quiet promise: It’s a rallying call. Because in order to honor the 49 victims taken that day, we demand action. We demand accountability from elected officials who are spewing the same type of anti-LGBTQ hatred and bigotry that leads to violence against our community.

  GLMA has cancelled a planned Florida conference following passage of anti-LGBTQ legislation/ hostile action by Governor Ron DeSantis. The announcement to members also cited COVID concerns as data showed Florida leading the nation in related deaths. “In view of this harmful law and ongoing concerns about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the conference, GLMA’s leadership has made the decision that its 39th Annual Conference on LGBTQ Health will be held virtually from Sept 22-25, 2021. The conference was originally planned to be held in-person in Florida.

For Immediate Release:

  Equality Florida Join Families and Advocates of Transgender Youth to Condemn Signing of Transgender Youth Sports Ban TALLAHASSEE, FL - Governor Ron DeSantis chose the beginning of Pride Month to sign the first anti-LGBTQ legislation to pass the Florida legislature in 23 years. DeSantis signed the Transgender Youth Sports Ban, barring trans youth from playing sports and allowing humiliating gender checks to be demanded by competitors.

More than 100 Elected Officials Announce Support for Transgender Youth, Opposition to Transgender Youth Sports Ban  

For Immediate Release:

It matters that George Floyd’s murderer was convicted yesterday.  

BREAKING: Today the Senate's Trans Sports Ban was postponed on the Rules Committee agenda - a move that will almost certainly kill it barring extraordinary maneuvers. We remain vigilant but will be celebrating this incredible turn of events. Our full statement:

I never played sports as a kid outside of a middle school bowling league. I did not have the parents who encouraged those things; academia was to be my main focus growing up. Now, years later, I am a single parent of four kids.

Florida Sports Organizations Join Growing Opposition To Anti-Trans Youth Sports Ban Miami Heat, esports giant Misfits Gaming Group, NCAA Decry Discriminatory Legislation

  Written By: Jon Harris Maurer & Skoervitch Emile, Equality Florida

Equality Florida To Honor Commissioner Monica Cepero with Voice for Equality Award At Statewide Virtual Event ST. PETERSBURG, FL - Equality Florida will honor Florida Human Relations Commissioner Monica Cepero with a Voice For Equality Award at its statewide virtual event on Sunday, May 23rd. The Voice for Equality Award is bestowed annually upon a person who, with courage, passion, and unwavering commitment, moves Florida’s LGBTQ community closer to full equality.

The City of Orlando Raises Transgender Pride Flag In Honor of The International Transgender Day of Visibility The City also issued a proclamation and will light Lake Eola Fountain in trans colors in celebration

FL Legislature Risks Losing NCAA Events By Fast Tracking Trans Sports Bans TALLAHASSEE, FL — Bills that are drawing universal criticism for seeking to ban transgender kids from playing sports in school may cause Florida to forfeit major sporting events.

For Immediate Release:

  TALLAHASSEE, FL — Lawmakers in the state legislature have joined in a national, coordinated effort to undermine the wellbeing of transgender youth, introducing legislation to bar those young people from participating in sports with their peers and criminalize doctors who provide affirming care. The bills (HB 1475, HB 935, SB 2012) are nothing short of an attack on at-risk youth designed to spread hateful stereotypes and further demonize a group of young people who need additional support and care.