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As I raced through the crowded halls of the Florida Capitol building, attempting to find the office of a senator from South Florida, bewilderment crept over me. What was I doing here?

Major Implications for Florida Conversion Therapy Cases Pending Review

Lobbying is a crucial piece of political activism that often goes undiscussed and unrecognized.

More than 70 Legislators Back Housing, Employment and Public Accommodations Protections for Florida LGBTQ Residents and Visitors Tallahassee, Fla. –– This week the Florida Competitive Workforce Act cleared a historic milestone of support with the bipartisan cosponsorship of 73 legislators, the highest level of support for LGBTQ protections in state history. The bill would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Florida’s Civil Rights Act, which bans discrimination in housing, employment, and public accommodations.

  As an intern for the HIV Advocacy Project with Equality Florida, I had the opportunity to experience advocacy and public health on a new level.

(Written By: Gina Duncan, Equality Florida's Director of Transgender Equality)  

TAMPA, Fla. — Today, Equality Florida Action PAC and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) announced both organizations are backing Jane Castor in the runoff election for mayor of Tampa, Florida. If elected, Castor will make history as the city’s first openly LGBTQ mayor.

In my first year as a staff member at Equality Florida, I heard over and over what a transformative experience Lobby Days is.

1,300 Businesses Across Florida Declare They Are “Open to All” Businesses Large and Small Across the Sunshine State Join National Campaign and Publicly Commit to Serving Everyone on Equal Terms

A bill that threatens to repeal every local LGBTQ inclusive nondiscrimination ordinance and conversion therapy ban in Florida was heard on March 14 in the second of three committee stops before a final vote in the House. The bad news: The bill is moving forward with an amendment that falls short of eliminating the threat.

A sweeping preemption measure would repeal local protections for 13 million Floridians, sparking economic backlash

  Tampa, FL - Jane Castor, Equality Florida’s top spotlight candidate of 2019, is one step closer to making LGBTQ history as Tampa’s first out lesbian mayor. Castor garnered 48% of the vote, coming in first in a crowded field of 7 candidates, and will head to a runoff election on April 23rd where she will face wealthy businessman David Straz.

(As of March 5, 2019)

Tallahassee, FL - Legislation to bring Florida’s existing HIV criminalization statutes into alignment with current science successfully passed out of its first committee hearing at the Florida Capitol yesterday. The Florida House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 10-3 to advance the legislation (HB 79) after hearing from House bill sponsor Representative Nick Duran (D - Miami) and HIV advocates on the need for reform.

HB 3 Could Jeopardize LGBTQ and Other Local Protections

  Written By: Nadine Smith, Executive Director of Equality Florida   If you’ve never travelled to Tallahassee to lobby for LGBTQ equality, this is the year to show up and call on leaders to include our community as equals in the state’s civil rights statute.

 

Equality Florida is proud to announce our Spring 2019 Intern Cohort! We have representation from all over the state, including Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Lakeland, and Tampa Bay! Learn more about our interns and help us welcome them to the team!

Fort Lauderdale — This week President Trump announced a goal of ending HIV transmissions in the U.S. by 2030. For HIV advocates around the country, eradicating HIV has been a viable goal for years since we now have the tools to stop transmissions. Unfortunately, standing in the way of HIV advocates — and now the Trump-Pence administration — is the administration itself. Since taking office, this administration has made headlines in the HIV field for harmful policies directly contradicting the President’s recent hopeful statement.

Judge Preliminarily Green-Lights Lawsuit Against Conversion Therapy Ban Florida Case Could Proceed Despite Two Federal Circuits Rejecting Similar Challenges