Statements & Press Releases

Statement
Florida Legislature Increases Attacks On LGBTQ Community
The Florida House Health Quality Subcommittee scheduled a vote on HB 1365, the Transgender Medical Care Ban, which would imprison doctors up to 15 years for providing care to transgender youth; Equality Florida condemned the targeting of transgender children.
Statement
Anti-LGBTQ Bill Moves Forward Despite Opposition From Floridians
The Florida House Subcommittee on Local, Federal, and Veterans Affairs voted 10-5 along party lines to advance Representative Bob Rommel's HB 305, which would roll back local LGBTQ employment protections; Equality Florida warned of economic backlash.
Press Release
Equality Florida Highlights Attacks on LGBTQ Floridians, Calls On Lawmakers To Pass Statewide Protections
As Florida's 2020 legislative session opened with a slate of anti-LGBTQ bills drawing negative national headlines, Equality Florida supporters converged on the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass the bipartisan Florida Competitive Workforce Act instead.
Press Release
Slate of Anti-LGBTQ Bills Dominate Florida Legislative Session
Anti-LGBTQ lawmakers filed a slate of eight bills for Florida's 2020 session, including legislation that would imprison doctors up to 15 years for providing care to transgender youth; Equality Florida called on legislative leaders to denounce and defeat them.
Press Release
Equality Florida, Impact Fund, NCLR Lead Civil Rights Groups Brief in Florida Appeals Court Fight to Protect Local Human Rights Ordinances
Equality Florida, the Impact Fund, and the National Center for Lesbian Rights led a coalition in filing an amicus brief urging a Florida appeals court to reverse a ruling that invalidated Orange County's Human Rights Ordinance in Yanes v. O C Food and Beverage.
Press Release
Equality Florida, Senator José Javier Rodríguez, & Representative Michael Grieco, Urge Lawmakers to Protect LGBTQ Children from Conversion Therapy
Equality Florida joined Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez and Representative Michael Grieco at the Florida Capitol to urge passage of SB 180 and HB 41, bills that would prohibit licensed professionals from practicing conversion therapy on minors.
Statement
Equality Florida Applauds Introduction of HIV Modernization Bills
Florida lawmakers Senator Jason Pizzo and Representative Nicholas Duran filed HIV modernization bills (SB 626/HB 427) to update the state's outdated HIV-specific criminal laws to reflect modern science; Equality Florida applauded the legislation.
Press Release
Equality Florida to Honor Transgender Community Leader at Annual Greater Orlando Gala
Equality Florida will honor transgender activist and community leader Ashley Figueroa with its Voice for Equality Award at its Greater Orlando Gala on November 2, making her the first transgender person to receive the award in Orlando.
Press Release
Equality Florida to Present Zach Dishinger with “Youth Voice for Equality Award” at Annual Gala: Saturday, Nov. 9
Equality Florida Institute will present its Youth Voice for Equality Award to 17-year-old cosmetics entrepreneur Zach Dishinger at its 17th Annual Broward Gala on November 9 in Fort Lauderdale.
Statement
Outlier Ruling Endangers Minors, Enables Abusive Conversion Therapy in Tampa
A federal trial court struck down Tampa's ban on conversion therapy for minors in Vazzo v. City of Tampa, a case brought by the Liberty Counsel; Equality Florida called the ruling an outlier and urged the Florida Legislature to enact statewide protections.