Stories

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Redistricting Threatens to Divide Florida’s LGBTQ Community
Equality Florida raised concerns that Florida's once-a-decade redistricting could fracture LGBTQ political power, particularly in Wilton Manors and Fort Lauderdale, where proposed House maps would continue dividing the LGBTQ community across multiple districts.
LGBTQ
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Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” Bill Demonizes the LGBTQ Community
Florida's 'Don't Say Gay' bill (HB 1557/SB 1834) passed its first House committee; Equality Florida said the measure would block teachers from discussing LGBTQ issues, isolate LGBTQ students, and serve Governor DeSantis's national political ambitions.
LGBTQ
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2022 Preemption Bills Threaten LGBTQ Protections
Equality Florida warned that two 2022 preemption bills, SB 280/HB 403 and SB 620/HB 569, could limit local governments' ability to enact LGBTQ protections such as human rights ordinances and conversion therapy bans.
LGBTQ
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Equality Florida’s 2022 Legislative Slate
Equality Florida released its 2022 Legislative Slate, opposing bills including the Transgender Youth Medical Care Ban and the 'Don't Say Gay' bill, while supporting measures to repeal the trans youth sports ban and the state's same-sex marriage ban.
Equality Florida
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A Deeper Look At Florida’s Dangerous Transgender Medical Care Ban Legislation
Equality Florida detailed the dangers of HB 211, the Transgender Youth Medical Care Ban filed by Representative Anthony Sabatini, which would criminalize doctors for providing best-practice gender-affirming care that is supported by leading national medical organizations.
Transgender
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Equality Florida Mourns Royal Poetical Starz, a Black transgender woman brutally murdered in Miami Gardens
Equality Florida mourned Royal Poetical Starz, a 26-year-old Black transgender woman fatally shot in Miami Gardens on October 2, the 40th known transgender or nonbinary person murdered that year; police misgendering and deadnaming delayed awareness of her death.
Equality Florida
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National LGBTQ Medical Group Cancels Florida Conference Citing Anti-Trans Youth Sports Ban
GLMA, a national LGBTQ medical group, canceled its planned in-person Florida conference and shifted to virtual, citing the state's new anti-trans youth sports ban and concerns about subjecting trans colleagues to a hostile atmosphere, as well as COVID-19 deaths.
LGBTQ
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Orange County School Board asks Governor DeSantis to Veto Transgender Youth Sports Ban
The Orange County School Board sent Governor Ron DeSantis a letter requesting he veto SB 1028, the Transgender Youth Sports Ban, saying it does not prioritize the needs of all children and noting no complaints about existing FHSAA participation rules.
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More than 100 Elected Officials Announce Support for Transgender Youth, Opposition to Transgender Youth Sports Ban
More than 100 current and former members of Congress, state lawmakers, and local officials signed a letter opposing Florida's Transgender Youth Sports Ban, affirming transgender youth and warning of the economic consequences of anti-LGBTQ policies.
Transgender
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I am the mom who you will see on the soccer field soon.
An Equality Florida blog by the single mother of a transgender son reflected on wanting equal opportunities for all four of her children and her fear over legislation that would make playing school sports impossible for her transgender child.