Update on the Florida Competitive Workforce Act Hearing
Florida Competitive Workforce Act Postponed
Senators defeat sweeping religious exemption amendment
(Tallahassee) - This afternoon the Senate Judiciary Committee discussed the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (SB 120), a bill that would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing state nondiscrimination laws.
After nearly two hours of discussion and public testimony, the bill was temporarily postponed and will possibly be brought back up in the next Senate Judiciary meeting tomorrow.
“We are not done. The bill lives to fight another day and we will continue to push lawmakers to vote in support of basic nondiscrimination protections for LGBT Floridians,” said Nadine Smith, CEO of Equality Florida. “Florida is at a historic crossroads, and the nation is watching to see whether lawmakers turn the third-largest state in the country toward progress or lurch backwards.”
During discussion of the bill, Senators defeated a dangerous sweeping religious exemption amendment by Senator Kelli Stargel.
Supporters from all over the state were present to speak in favor of the bill, including business leaders from TechData, AT&T, HSN and Disney; civil rights advocates; and faith leaders.
(Michael Rajner, Senator Diaz de la Portilla, Christopher Gassett (HSN), John Tonnison (TechData) and Jean David Parlier)