Statement From Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida

Release Date

06/25/2013

Source

Today’s rulings are a major step forward for the country, but for Floridians they fall far short of justice and are more than anything a call to action.

For those of us who live in state’s like Florida where our marriages are still not recognized, today’s rulings are a reminder that we cannot wait for justice to be handed to us, we are going to have to get engaged and fight.

A majority of Floridians support the freedom to marry, and this is our moment to stand up and get engaged on the right side of history.

Today our rights as Americans are not based on our shared citizenship, but upon our geographic location. More than 86 million Americans, nearly one-third of the country, live in states with full marriage equality, with the state and federal protections families need. Today the Supreme Court has said we can go states like Minnesota or Iowa and get married, but we return to Florida legal strangers in our home state.

Equality Florida launched the Get Engaged campaign (www.imengaged.org) to call on the growing number of Floridians who support equal rights and the freedom to marry to act on their beliefs; to talk to their family, friends and neighbors about why marriage matters and about why no loving, committed couple should be excluded from marriage.

Now is the time to be vocal, be visible and join the fight today!

NOTE
On Monday, July 1st, at 7:00 p.m. Equality Florida will host a statewide Tele-Town Hall Meeting, which will feature a panel of regional and national legal experts including Shannon Minter, Legal Director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights; Elizabeth Schwartz, Miami-based LGBT Family and Estate Planning Lawyer; Mary Meeks, Orlando Civil Rights Attorney; and Nancy Faggianelli, a Shareholder with Carlton Fields, one of Florida’s top law firms. Nadine Smith, Equality Florida’s Executive Director will moderate the panel, fielding questions from participants.

Participation in the Tele-Town Hall is easy. Simply register at http://eqfl.org/tele-townhall, and Equality Florida will contact you with event details.

Text “EQUAL” to 99000 to get updates.

Statement From Nadine Smith, Executive Director, Equality Florida

In the News

Past time for Scott to honor vow to act against LGBT discrimination -

Faith leaders call on Gov. Rick Scott to honor Pulse victims with executive order -

Faith leaders, LGBTQ community request action from Gov. Scott -

Orlando faith leaders call on Rick Scott to sign anti-discrimination order -

Orlando faith leaders call on Rick Scott to protect LGBTQ state employees -

Pulse survivor: Gov. Scott 'cold,' 'out of step with community' -

LGBTQ activists call for more protection from Scott -

Gay, black leaders speak about finding their place -

Pulse mom to Rick Scott: Prove LGBTQ hate has no place in Florida -

Activists, political leaders criticize Scott on LGBTQ issues -

Advocates call out Rick Scott for failing to sign LGBTQ anti-discrimination order after Pulse -

Fla. Dems, Equality Florida say Rick Scott ‘broke promise’ to protect LGBTQ employees -

LGBTQ activists say Rick Scott promised to ban discrimination and never delivered -

Democratic Lawmaker Says Florida Gov. Scott Used Zika, Hurricane as Excuses to Not Sign Promised LGBT Protections -

Frustration mounts over Gov. Scott's failure to sign order protecting LGBTQ public employees -

Equality Florida CEO recalls 1993 March on Washington -

Onslaught of anti-LGBT bills in 2017 has activists 'playing defense' -

Publix to insure legally married same-sex employee couples regardless of state laws -

Bill that would end discrimination against LGBT community in Florida introduced -

Florida Republican and Democratic Legislators Renew Attempt to Protect Against Gay Bias -