Resistance Report Week 6: Busloads of Floridians in the Capitol to Fight Back Against Anti-LGBTQ Bills

It was an incredible show of people power in the Capitol this week!

More than 150 Equality Florida volunteer advocates filled the halls in an extraordinary show of strength — bused in from Sarasota, Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville, with more reinforcements from Jacksonville. Our presence was undeniable, and our impact was clear.

Overwhelming turnout helped pause the harmful Police State bill (Outlawing Activism) in its tracks in a Senate committee, when the chair announced that there were too many commenters to consider the bill. In other hearings on anti-LGBTQ bills, we outnumbered the opposition and delivered powerful testimony — making it unmistakable that Floridians reject these dangerous assaults on our rights and freedoms.

This is what the Resistance looks like!

To everyone who took time off work and away from loved ones to make the trip to Tallahassee: THANK YOU! Your courage, sacrifice, and refusal to sit on the sidelines are what power this movement.

As we look ahead to week #7, we remain at CODE RED. We’re expecting full House floor votes at any moment on the Don’t Say Gay or Trans at Work bill and the More Lawsuits for Teachers and Doctors bill. The Anti-Diversity in Local Government bill cleared its final Senate Committee this week and is also advancing to the Senate floor.

The stakes are escalating — and so must we. If you take one action this week, we need you to CALL the Senate President and Speaker of the House right away and tell them to OPPOSE this slate of hate.

Senate President Ben Albritton — (850) 487-5027
House Speaker Daniel Perez — (850) 717-5000

Now, let’s take a closer look at what happened with bills this week.

Our ongoing Pride at the Capitol program is a crucial element of our work to stop or minimize the impact of bad bills and prepare for legal challenges against any that become into law.

But this effort relies heavily on pro-equality supporters like YOU taking action. Your presence in Tallahassee, your stories, and your participation in committee hearings are crucial. Equality Florida is in the Capitol through all 60 days of the legislative session — join us on the frontlines by signing up to support our effort in-person during any of the remaining days and weeks ahead.

This week’s WINNER is Senator Shevrin Jones, who was unanimously elected by his colleagues to be the Senate Democratic Leader for 2028-2030. In 2020, Senator Jones broke the Florida Senate’s lavender ceiling by becoming the first LGBTQ Floridian to be elected to the chamber. Starting in 2028, Senator Jones will be the highest-ranking Democrat in Florida and the first LGBTQ Democratic leader in our state’s history! Senator Jones shows up for us over and over again. We couldn’t be prouder of his groundbreaking, history-making accomplishment!

This week’s LOSER is Representative Lauren Melo, who is rushing to make Florida the most extreme state in the nation when it comes to restricting healthcare for transgender people. Her “More Lawsuits for Teachers and Doctors” bill would already dramatically expand the Attorney General’s ability to harass professionals for supporting LGBTQ youth, but this week she doubled down on the “aiding and abetting” provision to make that even worse. As she confirmed in a hearing on the bill, her amendment adopted this week would expand liability from only healthcare providers to now include anyone – even parents and therapists helping minors access care already restricted in the state.

Now, let’s take you through exactly what happened this week, what's still coming, and how you can take action.

🚨OPPOSE: Anti-Diversity in Local Government (HB 1001/SB 1134)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Dean Black and Sen. Clay Yarborough

• What it does: This bill is a state sledgehammer to stop cities and counties from any action that recognizes and responds to differences based on race, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, with limited exceptions. It would repeal existing programs, ban their funding, and threaten city and county officials with removal from office for anything vaguely labeled “diversity, equity, or inclusion.” Local elected officials have stated that its vagueness and extreme penalties would stop local governments from a range of actions like hosting or supporting Prides, offering LGBTQ+ cultural competency training, recognizing Black History Month, or having women and minority-owned business programs.

• What happened: Our volunteers packed the Senate Rules Committee room and gave strong, compelling testimony against SB 1134. Of 64 speaker cards, nearly 90% were opposed to this sweeping and dangerous attack. Ultimately, SB 1134 PASSED out of committee by a 19-5 vote. Next, it heads to the Senate floor for a full vote.

• How you can help: Send a message to your Senator and the members of the final House Committee and urge them to vote NO on SB 1134/HB 1001.

🚨OPPOSE: Don’t Say Gay or Trans at Work (HB 641/SB 1642)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Rachel Plakon, Rep. Danny Nix, and Sen. Stan McClain

• What it does: This is grievance legislation, rooted in legitimizing deeply offensive and hostile anti-transgender speech in the workplace. It brings Florida’s culture wars directly into public and many private workplaces. It would shield employees from accountability for intentionally misgendering transgender coworkers, and even prohibits job applicants from identifying as transgender or nonbinary on job applications. The bill also seeks to block LGBTQ-inclusive cultural competency training in certain workplaces, making environments less safe and less inclusive. This bill undermines basic dignity and professionalism in the workplace.
• What happened: HB 641 PASSED out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 13-6. Next it heads to the House floor for a full vote.

• How you can help: Contact your Representative and Senator right away and urge them to OPPOSE SB 1642/HB 641.

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🚨OPPOSE: More Lawsuits for Teachers & Doctors (HB 743/SB 1010)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Lauren Melo and Sen. Clay Yarborough

• What it does: These bills hand the Attorney General sweeping authority to investigate and sue school staff and health care providers under vague and undefined standards, intensifying Florida’s attacks on transgender youth and LGBTQ+ communities. The bills weaponize state government to intimidate and punish public servants, pile new felony penalties onto care that is already prohibited, and turn Florida’s classrooms into legal minefields. Instead of protecting children or families, these bills will reduce access to healthcare for everyone, drive providers and educators out of the state, saddle taxpayers with new costs, and erode public trust.
• What’s happened: During questioning by Rep. Rayner, sponsor Rep. Lauren Melo admitted her bill could open the door for parents to be sued or jailed for helping their child access mental health support. HB 743 PASSED out of the House Judiciary Committee by a vote of 14-5. Next, this bill heads to the House floor for a full vote.

• How you can help: Send an email to your Representative and Senator right away and tell them to OPPOSE HB 743/SB 1010.

Volunteers are ready to testify in committee against a slate of dangerous bills.

🚨OPPOSE: Police State Bills (Outlawing Activism) (HB 1471/SB 1632) 🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Hillary Cassel and Sen. Erin Grall

• What it does: This legislation is an outrageous escalation of state terror for disagreeing with the government. It creates a vague, new designation of “domestic terrorist organization” for organizations engaging in allegedly dangerous activities intended to “coerce” the public or influence government policy “by intimidation or coercion.” Felony penalties apply for donating to, advising, or volunteering with an organization that one knows is a domestic terrorist organization or engages in such activity would constitute a felony, and for becoming a member of such organization with intent to further its allegedly illegal activity.
• What’s happened: A WIN! After overwhelming turnout against the bill, SB 1632 was temporarily postponed in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, delaying the vote on this harmful bill! This was a direct result of dozens of volunteers from across the state joining us to speak out at the committee hearing. There were 80 speaker cards read into the record - a nearly unanimous list of names opposing the bill. THIS is what it looks like to be sand in the gears of the legislative machine, slowing down the process. SB 1632 has been rescheduled for a hearing in the Senate Civil & Criminal Justice Appropriations Committee this coming Wednesday, February 25th at 1:30pm ET.

• How you can help: Send an email to lawmakers urging them to oppose HB 1471/SB 1632.

🚨OPPOSE: Endangering Our Kids Act (HB 173/SB 166)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Kim Kendall and Sen. Erin Grall

• What it does: his legislation would put young people at risk by restricting minors’ access to birth control, STI treatment, and other essential healthcare without parental consent. In the real world, not all young people can safely involve a parent in sensitive health decisions. Public health policy should empower youth to take responsibility for their wellbeing, not punish them for seeking care when they are vulnerable or afraid. This bill prioritizes control over safety and will lead to worse health outcomes for young Floridians.
• What’s happened: HB 173 PASSED out of the House Education & Employment Committee by a vote of 12-4. Next, it heads to the House floor for a full vote.

• How you can help: Tell your lawmakers to oppose HB 173/SB 166.

🚨OPPOSE: New Barriers to Voting (HB 991/SB 1334)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Rep. Dana Trabulsy and Sen. Erin Grall

• What it does: The onerous new proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration and verification in the New Barriers to Voting bills are rooted in a false narrative about voter fraud and introduce an expensive and burdensome new requirement that will lead to more eligible voters being disenfranchised. These pose particular risk for voters who have changed their names for marriage or other reasons, whose legal name no longer matches proof of citizenship documents like a birth certificate, or don’t have a Florida driver’s license or state ID.
• What’s happening: HB 991 PASSED out of the House State Affairs Committee by a vote of 17-6. SB 1334 PASSED out of the Senate Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development Committee by a vote of 9-5. Next, HB 991 is scheduled for a full vote on the House floor this coming Wednesday, February 25th at 10am ET.

• How you can help: Email the committee members and urge them to vote NO on HB 991/SB 1334.

🚨OPPOSE: The Education Package (HB 1071/SB 1090) 🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Dana Trabulsy and Sen. Erin Grall

• What it does: This legislation contains several concerning provisions, including a ban on school districts using state or federal funding for “social and political activism” activities by students and a revision to sexual health education content, which could introduce biased and anti-abortion information about fetal development. The Senate version would make Florida’s already limited sexual health education opt-in only, creating a new hurdle to important information.
• What’s happened: HB 1071 is scheduled for a vote on the House floor this coming Wednesday, February 25th at 10am ET.
• How you can help: Tell your Representative and Senator to OPPOSE HB 1071/SB 1090.

The resistance is making headlines! We’re going to continue showing the world what it looks like to resist, fight back, and WIN.

As we continue over the next 19 days, we must remember that our voices matter, our actions matter, and our movement matters.

Together, we will resist, and we will make a difference.