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Today we recognize Juneteenth - a celebration marking the day in 1865 when enslaved Texans learned they’d be free, two months after Robert E. Lee surrendered and ended the Civil War and two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

  Black people have been killed, Black people are dying at the hands of police, our country is in crisis, and we all need to take action. We cannot sit on the sidelines, we cannot acquiesce, and we cannot assign responsibility to others. We, as leaders in the LGBTQ movement, must rise up and call for structural change, for divestment of police resources and reinvestment in communities, and for long-term transformational change. Now is the time to take action, and this letter amplifies our strong calls for urgent and immediate action to be taken.

  Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that firing someone for being LGBTQ is a VIOLATION of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act! You can read the full opinion at: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/17-1618_hfci.pdf Statement on today’s ruling by Equality Florida’s Executive Director, Nadine Smith:

  ORLANDO, FL - As the nation marks four years since the tragic shooting at Pulse Nightclub that left 49 mostly LGBTQ people of color dead, Equality Florida, in its ongoing commitment to honor the victims with action, is announcing the launch of its largest election program in the organization’s history. The efforts will target 500,000 pro-equality voters in the state of Florida with the goal of ensuring they have updated registrations, resources to educate themselves on where candidates stand on equality, and sign up to receive their ballots by mail.

Equality Florida Convenes LGBTQ #BlackLivesMatter Town Hall; Black LGBTQ Leaders Speak Out To Combat Racial Violence

  “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Those words, written over 30 years ago by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, remind us that indifference can never bridge the divide of hate. And, today, they should serve as a call to action to all of us, and to the Movement for LGBTQ equality.

Last week, we continued the conversation about the transgender experience in our virtual town hall series, TransChat. The conversation took us across the state as we heard from transgender and nonbinary community leaders discussing challenges, victories, and their own inspirational personal stories! Check out the full segments below and stay tuned for future installments!

Equality LIVE Reaches Audience of 20,000 and Raises A Remarkable $56,817 During The Live Broadcast Written By: Nadine Smith, Executive Director  

Grammy-Winning Artists, U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren to Appear on Equality Florida’s “Equality LIVE,” A Daylong Virtual Variety Show in Support of LGBTQ Equality

  We have great news to share as we near the end of the week! Last night, the Tallahassee City Commission unanimously enacted protections against "conversion therapy". Tallahassee is now leading the state with the MOST inclusive policy on this issue to date. This is a big victory for our LGBTQ community and an important message to end this barbaric practice of psychologically torturing young people.

  (We will continue updating this page as we receive additional information and resources.) As COVID-19, also referred to as novel coronavirus, continues to spread across our state, our country and the globe, it is important to be informed and prepared - especially if you are a member of our transgender and nonbinary community.

  Today is Election Day for Florida’s Presidential Primary and this is your guide to protecting your health and democracy. Polls will be open from 7:00AM to 7:00PM for you to cast your ballot. Your voice in this election is critical.

(We will update this page regularly)   (Update: March 18, 2020)  Equality Florida has decided to cancel or postpone additional public events for April/May, including:  April 25: Equality Florida Tallahassee Gala May 9: Equality Florida St. Pete Gala (Update: March 13, 2020)

We’ve now passed the midpoint of the 2020 Legislative Session in Tallahassee and, with a fantastic Lobby Days at the Capitol under our belts, there are some early successes, remaining threats, and clear missed opportunities by the GOP leade

  ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Hundreds of school district leaders from 39 Florida school districts and Florida Virtual Schools are gathering today for two days of intensive LGBTQ-inclusive trainings in St. Petersburg at the at-capacity sixth annual All Together Now Conference. Attendees represent 90% of Florida’s public school population.

Families of Transgender Youth Fight Back Against Attacks from Florida Legislature Jeannette Jennings and other parents testify in workshop on anti-trans bill

  TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Legislature has doubled down on its attacks on LGBTQ Floridians by advancing a draconian bill that threatens doctors with 15 years in prison for providing life-saving care to transgender youth. The “Transgender Medical Care Ban” bill (HB 1365) has been scheduled for a vote in the Florida House Health Quality Subcommittee on Monday, February 3 at 3:00pm ET. The only other state to move this dangerous legislation forward is South Dakota.

  TALLAHASSEE — Today Florida Legislators advanced a bill which would have dangerous effects on local LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections in employment across the state. Despite strong opposition from Equality Florida and advocates, the Florida House Subcommittee on Local, Federal, and Veterans Affairs voted 10-5 on a party line to move State Representative Bob Rommel’s HB 305 to its final committee. As filed, the bill would roll back local LGBTQ protections that currently cover nearly 60% of the state’s population.