(Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)
ORLANDO | More than 20 major businesses across Florida came together July 21 to support passage of the Equality Act, releasing an open letter to Congress.
The federal legislation would improve civil rights and modernize laws by adding permanent protections for members of the LGBTQ community as well as people of color, women and people of all faiths.
“We as business owners, job creators, and community leaders in the state of Florida urge Congress to pass the Equality Act,” the letter opens. “We believe that all Americans deserve to be treated with respect, and valued as fellow countrymen, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our state has built itself to be naturally welcoming as the sunshine state and the home to so much hospitality. It is with that in mind that we ask for your support and to update our federal laws to uphold these values.
Businesses and organizations who signed on the the letter include professional sports teams the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Tampa Bay Rays and Tampa Bay Rowdies, as well as Moffitt Cancer Center, Lyft, Airbnb, Citrix, BlueGrace Logistics, Carlton Fields, Office Depot and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
“Passage of the Equality Act isn’t just the right thing to do – it’s the smart thing to do economically,” said Carol Dover, President & CEO of Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, in a press release. “As we recover from the impacts of COVID-19, the protections guaranteed under the Equality Act are vital for our state’s restaurant and hospitality industries to remain competitive and welcoming to all so that we can bring back our guests and continue to rebuild and strengthen tourism in the Sunshine State.”
Of the 50 states in the U.S., 29 of them do not have laws that explicitly protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination. Without this Equality Act, people in the LGBTQ community are “vulnerable” to being denied healthcare, removed from a jury and/or denied credit or federally funded services.
“As a nationwide employer, the current patchwork approach to nondiscrimination policies in this country creates unpredictability and uncertainty for businesses like ours that operate across multiple cities and states,” said Bobby Harris, President & CEO of BlueGrace Logistics, in the release. “It is critical that our employees are able to live without fear for their family’s safety, security, and loss of opportunities. Bostock creates an imperative for Congress to act. It’s time to finish the job.”
Over 400 major U.S. businesses have endorsed the federal legislation, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers. The Equality Act would not only protect the LGBTQ+ community, but also the millions of women who aren’t protected by anti-discrimination laws. These businesses want people to stop being judged simply due to their race, origin or religion.
To read the full letter and see a list of the businesses that signed onto it, visit FreedomForAllAmericans.org.
