ABOVE: Equality Florida and supporters March 30. Screenshot via Equality Florida.
CLEARWATER, Fla. | Equality Florida and supporters assembled at State Rep. Chris Latvala’s office March 30 to continue their fight for transgender youth throughout the state.
The gathering was held on the eve of Transgender Day of Visibility, the annual commemoration celebrating transgender people worldwide. It also raises awareness of the work that is still needed to save transgender lives, such as opposition to bills being considered in the Florida Legislature.
Equality Florida previously detailed that ongoing fight in Tallahassee this legislative session, emphasizing their opposition to attacks on transgender youth. Senate Bill 2012 (SB 2012) and House Bills 1475 (HB 1475) and 935 (HB 935) specifically target the vulnerable population.
HB 1475 and SB 2012 would each bar transgender youth from participating in sports with their peers, while HB 935 would criminalize doctors for providing transgender-affirming care. Similar measures are being considered – and passed – across the country.
“As Republican Governors, major corporations, sporting institutions, athletes and scientists across the country voice opposition to bills aimed at barring trans kids from playing on sports teams with their peers, the Florida legislature, led by State Representative Chris Latvala, is attempting to fast track its own such bill to Governor DeSantis’ desk,” Equality Florida shared March 30.
“Despite ample evidence of the innumerable harms caused by this anti-trans legislation and the glaring lack of the ‘problem’ it claims to fix, HB 1475 is being shepherded away from public scrutiny and toward final passage at breakneck speed,” they stressed.
Speakers at Latvala’s office included Equality Florida Communications Manager Michael Womack, St Pete Pride President Nathan Bruemmer, Circle of Faith Pastor Adam Gray, Martin McLellend and Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith. Each clearly outlined their opposition to HB 1475 and other anti-transgender legislation.
“We chose to be here in front of Representative Latvala’s office because he has been the lead cheerleader, even moreso than the bill’s sponsor, in pushing this bill,” Smith began, “and it is with deep disappointment that I say that. Not only is this bill not a solution, it is the problem.
“This bill doesn’t just do harm to trans youth who would seek to play sports, it sends an insidious message about all trans young people and all trans people, period,” she continued. “This is a legislature that was not stirred to action by the murder of trans people – Florida led the country for multiple years, no action – but on an issue that even the sponsors admit is not an issue in the state of Florida.”
Smith further outlined existing guidelines throughout the state, turning toward the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s opposition to similar anti-transgender legislation. The NCAA has called such measures damaging to transgender athletes and “warned that legislation that violates the sporting agency’s long-existing and inclusive sporting participation guidelines may jeopardize that state’s ability to host NCAA events,” Equality Florida has noted.
“So why do we have this bill for a problem that doesn’t exist, that introduces problems, that has elite athletes and the NCAA … having to stand up and say this is a bad bill?” Smith concluded. “Why do we have this bill? For one reason and one reason only – somebody has convinced legislators in 25 states that by pushing this bill they are throwing red meat to their base in the next election. That is the only reason, it has nothing to do with fairness.”
You can watch Equality Florida’s press conference in full below:
In recognition of Transgender Day of Visibility, Equality Florida will host an online gathering March 31 from 5-6 p.m. Learn more about “Transgender Day of Visibility: Transitioning Before Resources” at the organization’s Facebook event page.
To contact Florida lawmakers regarding anti-transgender legislation, click here. For more information about Equality Florida and its fight for LGBTQ equality statewide, visit EQFL.org.
