ABOVE: Equality Florida’s 2018 St. Pete Gala at The Mahaffey. Photo by Ryan Williams-Jent.
Equality Florida previewed its 2021 agenda ahead of the new year, committing to protect the community it serves as the state’s largest LGBTQ civil rights organization.
It follows a historic year for the group, even amidst COVID-19. In addition to combatting anti-LGBTQ legislation in Tallahassee throughout 2020, Equality Florida’s efforts raised $1.5 million to turn out 1 million pro-LGBTQ voters for the general election.
“The nature of our work has sort of remained the same,” Equality Florida Communications Manager Michael Womack reflects. “The pandemic has certainly made our work more difficult, but our fight to protect Florida’s LGBTQ community and our commitment to them persists.”
Equality Florida’s 2021 agenda begins with ensuring schools are welcoming for LGBTQ students. “School safety is a life or death issue for LGBTQ youth, who face higher risks of bullying, assault, homelessness, substance abuse and suicide attempts,” the organization shares. They advise their Safe and Healthy Schools program remains “the most ambitious school-based program ever undertaken on behalf of LGBTQ students.”
With continued support in 2021, the organization committed to continuing its work in training school teachers, counselors, social workers and students on inclusivity. They also advised they will support Gender-Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) throughout Florida “so every child can find a safe and accepting community at school.”
The organization will also work to increase mental health resources. They advise that doing so will allow LGBTQ students to “stay safe, connected and supported during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In 2021, Equality Florida will also further its efforts to pass the Florida Competitive Workforce Act (FCWA), first introduced in the state more than 10 years ago. The FCWA would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity in employment, housing, public accommodations and more statewide – but despite widespread bipartisan support, the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature has failed to enact it.
“Florida is behind the times, and our state law still does not explicitly ban firing someone, evicting them from housing or denying them service at a restaurant just because they are LGBTQ,” Equality Florida shares. “But all that is about to change. Next year, we have the chance to pass statewide legislation that will clearly make Florida a safer, healthier place for our LGBTQ community.”
The organization also hopes to lobby the legislature to update statewide HIV laws, which they say haven’t been updated since the 1980s. “People living with HIV can still be arrested and convicted for non-disclosure, even when no transmission occurs,” they explain. “These outdated laws disproportionately target women, people of color and the trans community, and often deter people from seeking testing and treatment.”
Following the deadliest year on record for transgender Americans – with at least 43 individuals having been murdered in 2020, including at least three in Florida – they also committed to advancing transgender equality and inclusion. Equality Florida will expand their TransAction network while deepening their work “to end the epidemic of anti-transgender violence that overwhelmingly claims the lives of Black transgender women.”
Leadership also plans to conduct LGBTQ diversity trainings at major corporations, health care systems, law enforcement agencies and educational institutions. They hope this and more will “work to end rampant discrimination against transgender and gender nonbinary people in healthcare, housing, and the criminal justice system.”
Finally, Equality Florida will work to support pro-equality businesses which have adopted comprehensive LGBTQ protections. They’ll do so by highlighting their efforts in their Equality Means Business and Open Doors Florida programs.
“Equality Florida has always thrived in less than desirable circumstances and the pandemic is no different,” Womack stresses. “Our work of changing hearts and minds and fighting for our community is undeterred.”
To learn more about Equality Florida’s Safe and Healthy Schools program or TransAction and Equality Means Business networks, visit EQFL.org. To read the organization’s full 2021 agenda and to support it financially, visit EQFL.org/2021-Equality-Agenda.
