Statements

Statement ∙
FL Board of Governors Pass Unprecedented Rules That Impose Unconstitutional Censorship and Strip Academic Freedom
Equality Florida's Carlos Guillermo Smith condemned the Florida Board of Governors for passing rules that abolish diversity and inclusion programs at state universities and eliminate sociology as a core course, calling them unconstitutional censorship that strips academic freedom.
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Equality Florida Condemns DeSantis Administration’s Anti-LGBTQ Attacks Alongside Parents, Students, and Families
Parents, students, and community leaders joined Equality Florida in Fort Lauderdale to condemn Governor DeSantis's attacks on LGBTQ students, citing book bans, censored curriculum, and the upheaval at Monarch High School after a transgender student played girls volleyball.
Equality Florida LGBTQ
Statement ∙
Federal Court Denies Request To Temporarily Block Restrictions On Life-Saving Healthcare For Transgender Adults In Florida
A federal court declined to block provisions of Florida's SB 254 restricting gender-affirming care for transgender adults, leaving Florida the only state with such restrictions. Equality Florida said the ruling maintains barriers motivated by bigotry.
Transgender
Statement ∙
Equality Florida Responds to AP Psychology Guidance from FL DOE
Amid national pushback, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz issued guidance that AP Psychology can be taught 'in its entirety,' reversing earlier guidance. Equality Florida urged districts to teach the full course and called for repeal of the Don't Say LGBTQ law and rule.
Equality Florida
Statement ∙
DeSantis Administration Censors AP Psychology Course
The Florida Department of Education notified superintendents that AP Psychology must remove its gender and human sexuality unit to continue being taught, a move Equality Florida said would deny students college credit and amounted to censorship.
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Federal Judge Strikes Down Ban on Medicaid Coverage for Gender Affirming Care
A federal court ruled that Florida's rule denying Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care violates the federal Medicaid statute, the Equal Protection Clause, and the Affordable Care Act, a victory Equality Florida said exposed the policy as politically motivated.
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Equality Florida Hosts Press Conference On DeSantis’ “Slate of Hate” Bills Signing
Gov. DeSantis signed four anti-LGBTQ bills into law, the Don't Say LGBTQ Expansion, Gender Affirming Care Ban, Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill, and Anti-Drag Bill, the largest such slate in a single Florida legislative session in state history.
Equality Florida
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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
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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
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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.