Blog

 

Equality Florida Asks Court to Tell Florida Officials to Follow the Law On Birth Certificates for Married Same-Sex Parents August 14, 2015 (St. Petersburg) -- Florida officials responded to Equality Florida’s birth certificate lawsuit late Thursday by asking a federal judge to clarify the law. Equality Florida responded Friday by saying the law is already clear and urged District Judge Robert L. Hinkle to tell the state to start following it.

LAWSUIT: Florida is Breaking the Law By Refusing To Acknowledge Married Same-Sex Couples As Parents on Birth Certificates (Tallahassee, FL, August 13, 2015)—Just days ago, Cathy Pareto and Karla Arguello—the first same-sex couple to be married in Florida—celebrated the birth of their twin son and daughter. But the couple’s joy was soon mixed with fear and frustration when the hospital denied Cathy the right to add her name to the children’s birth certificates.

Legislators push for statewide LGBT nondiscrimination protections As cases show, real discrimination persists despite gains in some areas August 11, 2015 The assistant manager of a hospital department in Kissimmee was commended often and promoted twice. But in November he was fired, after what he described as months of teasing about his sexual orientation from a new boss.

Today, August 5, Equality Florida delivered 1,266 signatures in support of the proposed inclusive update to Florida's marriage certificates by the Bureau of Vital Statistics. Below is the letter that was sent to the bureau, which included an attachment of all the members who signed in support.  Dear Ana Goold and the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics,

Equality Florida and TransAction Florida are pleased to welcome and support the Southern Comfort Conference coming to Ft. Lauderdale for the next three years. TransAction Florida is dedicated to advocacy, education and public policy in support of transgender equality!

Mark Puskarich is Equality Florida's new Tampa Development Officer Bullied in middle school, he wants to help other youth As Equality Florida gears up for its next challenge, a new person has joined its Tampa Bay development team.

Equality Florida is proud to stand with Planned Parenthood. For years we have fought side-by-side to ensure quality healthcare & reproductive freedom for women, comprehensive sex education for teens, and equality for all LGBT people. We condemn the smear tactics used against this wonderful organization that serves so many in our state.

Members of Congress introduce a fully inclusive anti-discrimination bill Equality Florida will encourage our state’s delegation to support it Congressional Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would replace the current patchwork of anti-discrimination protections for LGBT Americans with a fully inclusive amendment to the nation’s civil rights laws.

Equality Florida to honor Jim Obergefell, Supreme Court marriage plaintiff Obergefell v. Hodges was the case that settled marriage equality once and for all July 22, 2015 Contact: Jim Harper, Media/Communications, 727-388-3636, [email protected]

The tragic death of India Clarke deserves a fuller, more accurate report Here’s how we can help July 22, 2015 Contact: Jim Harper, Media/Communications, 727-388-3636, [email protected] Gina Duncan, Transgender Inclusion Director, [email protected]

Thank you for standing with us on this journey to win marriage equality!

News release by the Jacksonville Coalition for Equality

Moments ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the freedom to marry nationwide by a 5-4 majority!

June 25, 2015

June 19, 2015 Friendship, empathy drive our new Palm Beach development officer Sandra Saladrigas, “a ball of positive energy,” builds local support for Equality Florida

Equality Florida stands today in mourning and in outrage at the murders of nine people inside their historic African-American church on Wednesday evening. It is a hate crime that has shocked the nation and claimed the lives of six women and three men, including State Senator Clementa Pinckney. Our hearts go out to their families, friends and the entire community reeling from this brutal act of terror.

Equality Florida's Black Lives Matter Statement Today is the 48th Anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark Loving v. Virginia decision that ended the ban on interracial marriages nationwide. It is a case invoked often in the arguments in favor of marriage equality.

Equality Florida replenishes its governing board Attorney Jon Harris Maurer appointed; B. Rodney White promoted; Jim VanRiper departs. June 8, 2015 Non-profit leadership consultants often say that one of the most important duties of a board member is to find his or her own replacement.

New television ad demonstrates the growing support for marriage equality Equality Florida and Freedom to Marry produced it to air ahead of Supreme Court ruling June 3, 2015 ​PANAMA CITY, Fla. – With the Supreme Court expected to rule on marriage by the end of this month, Equality Florida and Freedom to Marry today released a second television ad demonstrating the broad base of support for marriage equality.