Statements & Press Releases

Press Release ∙
Adoption bill removes ban on lesbian, gay parents from FL Statutes
House bill would remove unconstitutional adoption ban from Florida law The Florida House of Representatives voted Wednesday to remove a statutory ban on lesbian and gay parents that was enacted in 1977 but declared unconstitutional by a state appeals court in 2010. Since then, state officials have declined to enforce the ban, but it has remained in Florida Statutes.
Adoption LGBTQ Parenting
Press Release ∙
Bill would discriminate against transgender Floridians
Lawmakers could criminalize use of public facilities by transgender Floridians Businesses would face fines and lawsuits for refusing to discriminate
Transgender
Statement ∙
11TH CIRCUIT SAYS IT WILL WAIT FOR SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY
11TH CIRCUIT SAYS IT WILL WAIT FOR SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY (February 4, 2015) -- The federal appeals court covering Florida and two other states said Wednesday that it will hear no arguments in marriage equality cases, until the Supreme Court rules on the matter, probably this summer. In the meantime, same-sex couples can continue to marry…
Marriage equality
Press Release ∙
Newly Married Florida Same-Sex Couple to Attend State Of The Union Address in D.C.
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz invited newlyweds Todd and Jeff Delmay, plaintiffs in the Pareto v. Ruvin marriage case and the first same-sex couple married in Broward County, to attend President Obama's State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C.
Press Release ∙
Senator Sobel to Honor Equality Florida & Six Marriage Equality Plaintiff Couples as “Champions of Change”
Senator Eleanor Sobel to Honor Equality Florida and Six Marriage Equality Plaintiff Couples as “Champions of Change” Tuesday, January 13 @ 5 PM
Equality Florida Marriage equality
Press Release ∙
Equality Florida Applauds Senator Nelson for Co-Sponsoring the Respect for Marriage Act
(January 7, 2015) Today Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) added his name as a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act (RMA), joining 42 original cosponsors in the Senate (including every returning Senator to the 114th Congress who supported the bill in the past) and 78 cosponsors in the House of Representatives.
Equality Florida
Press Release ∙
NCLR/Equality Florida to AG Bondi: Instruct ALL Agencies to Recognize Marriages
The National Center for Lesbian Rights, counsel for the plaintiffs in Pareto v. Ruvin, sent a letter urging Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to immediately advise all state agencies that they are legally required to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples.
Equality Florida Marriage equality
Press Release ∙
First Florida Same-Sex Couples Marry!
Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel lifted the stay on her ruling striking down Florida's same-sex marriage ban in Pareto v. Ruvin, allowing marriages to begin immediately; Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello became the first same-sex couple to receive a marriage license in Florida.
Marriage equality
Press Release ∙
Motion Filed For Miami-Dade Judge To Lift Stay On Marriages At Monday Hearing
Equality Florida Institute and Plaintiff Couples File Motion for Judge Zabel to Lift Stay at Monday Hearing
Marriage equality
Press Release ∙
Equality Florida and NCLR Issue Memorandum to Florida Clerks Re Issuing Marriage Licenses
EQUALITY FLORIDA AND NCLR ISSUE MEMORANDUM TO FLORIDA CLERKS RE ISSUING MARRIAGE LICENSES ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 (December 24, 2014) National center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) and Equality Florida sent a six-page Memo to the Court Clerks of Florida's 67 counties.
Equality Florida