TAKE ACTION: Help defeat the Transgender Discrimination Bill (HB 583)

The Transgender Discrimination Bill (HB 583) has been scheduled for a vote in its next committee of reference TOMORROW - Tuesday, March 17. We need everyone's help to stop this dangerous bill. Please call the State Representatives below and tell them to vote NO on HB 583.

Right now we have dozens of volunteer lobbyists at the the Florida Capitol for our Annual Lobby Days, who will be speaking directly with Representatives and Senators over the next two days about this shameful bill.

Opponents of LGBT equality are also at the capitol today, mobilizing around this bill and delivering their message with force. So we need you to help us - and our volunteer pro-equality lobbyists - by making these quick calls to the Representatives in the subcommittee and by SHARING this information far and wide.

Members of the Government Operations Subcommittee:

Bileca, Michael (Chair) (R) - (850) 717-5115
Santiago, David (Vice Chair) (R) - (850) 717-5027
Brodeur, Jason T. (R) - (850) 717-5028
Fant, Jay (R) - (850) 717-5015
Ingoglia, Blaise (R) - (850) 717-5035
O'Toole, Marlene (R) - (850) 717-5033
Roberson , Kenneth L. (R) - (850) 717-5075
Smith (J), Jimmie T. - (R) - (850) 717-5034
Taylor, Dwayne (D) - (850) 717-5026
Workman, Ritch (R) - (850) 717-5052

Also call:

Speaker of the House Steve Crisafulli - (850) 717-5051
House Majority Leader Dana Young - (850) 717-5060

SAMPLE SCRIPT:

"Hello, my name is [insert your name], I'm calling to ask you to please vote NO on House Bill 583 by Representative Artiles when it comes before the Government Operations Subcommittee on Tuesday, March 17.

This Transgender Discrimination Bill, HB 583, seeks to criminalize transgender people by making it illegal for them to enter sex segregated facilities such as bathrooms, locker rooms, or dressing rooms. HB 583 would also compel businesses to discriminate against their own employees and customers, and invalidate nondiscrimination policies that already exist on the local level.

The arguments for this bill are the same lies and scare tactics we have seen defeated time and again in cities across Florida and states across the country. Concerns raised about public safety in public facilities have absolutely no basis in fact. To date, 17 states and 28 municipalities in Florida have passed and successfully implemented human rights ordinances that provide protections to the transgender community with absolutely no increase in public safety incidents.

Instead, this bill hurts businesses and individuals by leaving them open to unnecessary litigation and hurts Florida's reputation nationwide. Please vote NO on HB 583."

*When speaking with legislators or their staff, please make sure to be firm but POLITE.*