Statewide

Supporters of LGBT equality will have an opportunity to meet and mingle with representatives of the civil rights organization Equality Florida next week at the Venice Theatre.

Equality Florida, which bills itself as "the largest civil rights organization in Florida dedicated to ending discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity," will host its first Equality Connection in Southwest Florida at 6 p.m. on Thursday.

Equality Florida's Michael Farmer discusses the U.S. Supreme Courts decision not to take up marriage case and let lower court rulings stand bringing the freedom to marry to over 11 new states.

To watch the full interview, click here. 

Written by: Jonathan Kendall

In August, U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle ruled on Grimsley and Albu v. Scott that Florida's ban on marriage for same-sex couples was unconstitutional and, despite a stay on his ruling, ordered the State of Florida to issue a new death certificate for Carol Goldwasser, naming Arlene Goldberg, her partner of 47 years, as her wife.

Written by: Chris Joseph 

With same-sex marriage on the brink of being legalized in Florida or getting forever mired in litigation, advocates and gay rights groups have been using news releases and the media to call on Gov. Rick Scott to lift the ban.

A federal judge is being asked to allow same sex couples to marry in Florida in the wake of a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida filed a motion Tuesday with U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle. Hinkle previously ruled Florida's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional, but stayed the ruling until other cases around the country were resolved.

The U.S. Supreme Court decided this week to turn away appeals from five states seeking to prohibit gay and lesbian unions.

Written by: Dan Sweeney

The U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to hear same-sex marriage appeals from five states means that in Florida, the final word on the subject will likely come from the federal appeals court or the state supreme court.

Supporters of same-sex marriage are asking the federal judge who overturned Florida's ban on same-sex marriages – and then promptly stayed his own decision – to now allow couples to get married.

Written by: Marty Rouse

HRC is proud to work alongside Equality Florida and Jacksonville Area Sexual Minority Youth Network (JASMYN) as part of the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality.

Together we hope to bring Jacksonville in line with every other major city in America with the passage of a fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance.