The 2016 legislative session is shaping up to be critical for Florida’s LGBT community. With the 60-day session officially kicking off January 12th 2016, lawmakers are already filing bills that would have good and bad outcomes for our community. That’s why we need you to join us on the front lines in Tallahassee on January 25th and 26th for Equality Florida’s Annual Lobby Days!

Here’s the good, the bad, and the ugly of legislation we are already seeing this year:

THE GOOD:

Older LGBT people face challenges that others do not

Town meetings will discuss needed changes in aging policies and services

Lawyer who helped win marriage equality
will be honored in Sarasota

Mary Bonauto will join Michael Donald Edwards
at Equality Florida’s annual celebration

Mary Bonauto, the lawyer who successfully argued for marriage equality at the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year, will come to Sarasota later this month to accept a Lifetime Achievement Award from Equality Florida at its annual Suncoast Celebration.

An Equality Florida member told us last week that his health insurer had denied coverage for an HIV medication he has taken for several years. He ultimately did get his meds, but he worried that the hurdles he faced might signal an effort by the insurance company to encourage HIV-positive clients to find another carrier.

We reached out to Florida Blue and the company acknowledged and apologized for a technical glitch that had affected 89 policyholders. It also issued this statement clarifying their policy.
 

On September 26th, nearly 500 guests gathered at the beautiful Florida Yacht Club to celebrate our movement’s historic gains and invest in the critical work ahead. Thanks to the generosity of our incredible sponsors and equality supporters like you, we broke our local fundraising record and raised over $192,000 for LGBT equality in the Greater Jacksonville region and across the state.

​Unete a nosotros!

Equality Florida launches its first educational campaign in Spanish

Oct. 5, 2015

Contacts:
Susanna Taddei, Producer, [email protected]
Jim Harper, Media/Communications, [email protected]

Meet the Interns: Gabby

(Legislative Intern/ Lobby Days Intern)

1. Tell us a little about yourself...