Equality Florida Condemns FL Representative Mike Hill’s Homophobic Remarks

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

On May 30, 2019, an audio recording of a public meeting between Rep. Mike Hill (R- Pensacola) and constituents was shared with Equality Florida. In this meeting, Representative Hill responded to questions about the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, legislation which would protect the LGBTQ community from discrimination, with a tirade defending discrimination against LGBTQ Floridians, calling a person’s sexual orientation a “choice” and a “behavior”. Worst of all, in a shocking display of homophobic bias, Rep. Hill laughed along with a constituent who suggested he file legislation requiring LGBTQ people be put to death. Equality Florida condemns Rep. Hill’s reckless and bigoted statements.

“Words matter. The comments made by Representative Mike Hill this week are both deeply disturbing and dangerous,” said Brandon Wolf, Pulse massacre survivor and Equality Florida Media Relations Manager. “Representative Hill should be embarrassed and ashamed for laughing along with the suggestion that he file legislation requiring the execution of LGBTQ people. We live in a diverse and inclusive state where the overwhelming majority of Floridians agree that no one should be discriminated against based on who they are or who they love. In less than two weeks our community prepares to mark three years since Pulse, the most deadly attack on LGBTQ people in this nation’s history, and we have never been more aware of how degrading and dehumanizing LGBTQ people causes harm.”

In the 2019 legislative session the Florida Competitive Workforce Act, sponsored by Florida’s first lesbian lawmaker Rep. Jennifer Webb (D - St. Petersburg), garnered unprecedented bipartisan support, including Republican lawmakers from Pensacola to Key West, becoming one of the most cosponsored bills of the session. More than 475 businesses, including major Florida employers like Disney, Darden, CSX, Carnival Cruise Lines, the Miami Heat and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, are calling for statewide LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. Comments like the ones made by Representative Mike Hill reinforce the urgent need to enact protections and condemn bigotry in all forms. Hatred has no place in Florida, and Equality Florida calls on Representative Hill to issue an immediate apology to the LGBTQ community.

TRANSCRIPT FROM MEETING:

Constituent: "In 1st Corinthians, it says a man who has an affair with another man shall be put to death."

Rep. Hill: "Says that in the old testament too."

Constituent: "Can you introduce legislation..."

Rep. Hill: *laughs* "Yeah, I wonder how that would go over"

*More laughter in the room*

Constituent: "Not well"