Statements & Press Releases

Press Release ∙
Florida Legislature Passes Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill
The Florida House passed HB 1521 by an 80-36 vote, sending the Anti-Transgender Bathroom Bill to the governor. The bill prohibits gender-inclusive restrooms in schools, prisons, and government buildings, separating use by sex assigned at birth.
Nondiscrimination Transgender
Press Release ∙
Florida Legislature Expands “Don’t Say LGBTQ” Law, Restricts Parental Rights
The Florida Senate passed HB 1069 by a 27-12 vote, expanding the Don't Say LGBTQ law through eighth grade, revoking parents' right to ensure correct pronoun use, and accelerating book bans by letting any person trigger a book's removal.
LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Denounces Governor DeSantis for Abusing Power to Silence Dissent
Equality Florida denounced Gov. DeSantis for threatening the licensure of Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna at the urging of Moms for Liberty, calling it targeted retaliation against a critic and an abuse of power.
Equality Florida
Statement ∙
Parents and Teachers Across Florida Slam Board of Education and DeSantis for “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” Expansion
The Human Rights Campaign and Equality Florida joined teachers, parents, and students in Tallahassee to condemn the Board of Education's expansion of Don't Say LGBTQ to all grades and the legislature's slate of anti-LGBTQ bills, including SB 254 and HB 1521.
Equality Florida LGBTQ
Press Release ∙
Equality Florida Issues Advisory Warning For Travel
Equality Florida issued an unprecedented travel advisory warning that Florida may not be safe for LGBTQ people, following passage of laws hostile to the community, restricting reproductive care, repealing gun safety laws, and censoring schools.
Equality Florida
Press Release ∙
Hundreds of Students Rally at the Capitol as House Passes Don’t Say LGBTQ Expansion
On Transgender Day of Visibility, hundreds of students rallied at the Florida Capitol as the House voted 77-35 to pass HB 1069, expanding the Don't Say LGBTQ law through eighth grade, banning correct-pronoun mandates, and accelerating book bans.
LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Psychologist Blasts Reps. Fine & Massullo For Lying About Research
Massachusetts psychologist Dr. Sebastian Barr accused Reps. Randy Fine and Ralph Massullo of misrepresenting his research on transgender mental health to justify HB 1421, the Trans Ban bill. Equality Florida said the sponsors were caught lying about data.
Press Release ∙
Hundreds Attend Pride at the Capitol to Condemn DeSantis’ Anti-LGBTQ Agenda
Hundreds of LGBTQ Floridians and allies traveled to Tallahassee for Pride at the Capitol to denounce more than 20 anti-LGBTQ bills filed in the 2023 session, though bills to expand Don't Say LGBTQ and criminalize gender-affirming care still advanced.
LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Bill to Criminalize Gender Affirming Care Filed in Florida Senate
Sen. Clay Yarborough filed Senate Bill 254, a sweeping bill that would impose felony penalties on parents and providers offering gender-affirming care to minors and let courts upend custody agreements. Equality Florida called it an authoritarian assault on parental rights.
Statement ∙
Representative Randy Fine Files Bill to Ban Transgender Floridians
Rep. Randy Fine filed HB 1421, which Equality Florida described as a transgender ban that would prohibit gender-affirming care for youth, restrict private insurance coverage, and bar transgender people from being legally recognized on birth certificates.
Transgender