Resistance Report Week 2: From Minneapolis to Tallahassee — How You Can Resist.

Before we jump into our regular Resistance Report updates...

Yesterday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minnesota killed Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old VA intensive care nurse and U.S. citizen.

This is state violence becoming routine. They killed Renee Good. They killed Keith Porter. They’re terrorizing communities. They’re roaming neighborhoods, circling schools, and following buses. They’re kidnapping toddlers and kids, using them as bait.

Thousands of Minnesotans, including local leaders, have taken to the streets demanding ICE get out. Yet, ICE continues to operate with impunity.

While millions of Americans struggle under cuts to healthcare, Congress is rushing to boost funding for the Department of Homeland Security and ICE, making it clear where their priorities lie. They’re choosing fear, force, and secrecy over accountability and human life.

We demand immediate accountability: Call your U.S. Senators and demand a NO vote on the Department of Homeland Security budget — (202) 224-3121. We cannot let state terror become normalized.

Equality Florida stands in solidarity with Minnesotans who are rising up and demanding a halt to these deadly operations.

This week, more than 75 Floridians from across the state joined us in Tallahassee for Week 1 of our Pride at the Capitol launch. It was a packed week of bill hearings, rallies, and meetings with lawmakers — and a powerful reminder that when we show up together, we get things done. If you were with us at the Capitol, thank you for standing on the front lines. And if you haven’t joined us yet, there are still plenty of opportunities ahead to take action with us.

As soon as we arrived in the Capitol, we mobilized against a pair of extreme bills — the “More Lawsuits for Teachers and Doctors” legislation (HB 743/SB 1010) — as they were heard in House and Senate committees. Our volunteer advocates testified, shared their lived experiences, and urged lawmakers to stop advancing bills that harm families and do nothing to address the real challenges Floridians are facing.

While there’s still a long fight ahead, seeing so many people step up and use their voices this week was energizing and powerful. We’re excited to welcome hundreds more Floridians to Tallahassee next week for Week 2 of Pride at the Capitol and the 3rd Annual Let Us Live March — a powerful rally for transgender visibility and solidarity!

As part of our Week 1 launch, we hosted a Parenting with Pride press conference, where parents, families, and advocates spoke out against years of relentless attacks on their children by Ron DeSantis and extremist lawmakers. Parents like Dr. Luisa Montoya — a mother of a transgender son and the President of PFLAG Fort Lauderdale — and Juan Dominguez, father of a transgender son, shared what it’s like living with the consequences of laws and policies designed to strip parents of their right to protect, support, and care for their children — simply because their kids are LGBTQ.

We also heard from Equality Florida Executive Director Stratton Pollitzer and Parents and Families Support Manager Jennifer Solomon who delivered a powerful message to lawmakers: While Floridians struggle with lack of affordability, a housing emergency, and skyrocketing insurance costs, DeSantis and extremist lawmakers are using fear and division to distract from their failures. Parents see through it. And we will not be silent while politicians attack our children and call it leadership.

A special thank you to LGBTQ accomplice Representative Dr. Anna V. Eskamani and LGBTQ champion Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith for standing in solidarity and speaking out at the press conference.

This week, Equality Florida proudly stood in solidarity with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), HIV advocates, and several other partner organizations for a rally to fight for Florida’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and save lives. Earlier this month, the Florida Department of Health announced it will be slashing the program — a move that will rip away access to life-saving medication for an estimated 16,000 Floridians. We heard powerful remarks from Florida lawmakers who demanded transparency and accountability from the state and called for an immediate halt to these heartless cuts — including Senator Rosalind Osgood, Senator Shevrin Jones, Representative Christine Hunschofsky, Representative Robin Bartleman and Representative Mitch Rosenwald.

There’s still time to contact the Surgeon General and the Florida Department of Health and make your voice heard!

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 are passed 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. We’ll be 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.

We will be in the Florida Capitol every single day of Florida’s 60-day session. Help keep the frontline fueled with a donation today. Every dollar counts!

This week’s WINNER is Representative Kelly Skidmore, who spoke out passionately against the “More Lawsuits for Teachers and Doctors” bill during debate in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee and highlighted the risks of expanding Attorney General James Uthmeier authority for politically motivated investigation and harassment. We’re also deeply grateful that Rep. Skidmore took time to address our Pride at the Capitol volunteers — reminding them that their voices do move the needle, and that their presence in the Florida Capitol lifts the spirits of lawmakers who are fighting back every day against culture-war politics that do nothing to improve the lives of Floridians.

This week’s LOSERS are Representative Lauren Melo and Senator Clay Yarborough, the sponsors of the “More Lawsuits for Teachers and Doctors” bill (HB 743/SB 1010). At a time when politicians should be stepping back and letting families make important healthcare decisions with the guidance of trusted medical professionals, this legislation does the opposite. Instead of addressing the real kitchen-table issues Floridians are facing, Rep. Melo and Sen. Yarborough continue to push extreme bills that place LGBTQ children and families squarely in the crosshairs.

Now, let’s take you through exactly what happened in Week #2, what's still coming, and how you can take action.

🚨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 happened: HB 743 PASSED out of the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee by a 12-5 vote, and SB 1010 PASSED out of the Senate Children, Families, and Elder Affairs by a 5-1 vote. Ahead of the votes, dozens of parents and volunteers attending our Pride at the Capitol campaign testified in opposition to these dangerous bills, and Representatives Kelly Skidmore, Michael Gottlieb, and Robin Bartleman all emphasized serious harms in the bill. Now, the bills head to the House Health Professions and Programs subcommittee and the Senate Health Policy committee for consideration.

Senator Darryl Rouson (D-St. Petersburg) was the only Democrat to vote in favor of SB 1010.
Note: In the graphic above, "HB 1010" should read "SB 1010".

• How you can help: Tell lawmakers to put families first by voting NO on HB 743 and SB 1010.

Equality Florida Executive Director Stratton Pollitzer with Pride at the Capitol volunteers after the committee hearing.

🚨OPPOSE: Book Ban Expansion (HB 1119/SB 1692) 🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Doug Bankson and Sen. Stan McClain

What it does: These bills would supercharge book banning and censorship in Florida’s K-12 schools by discarding a long-standing constitutional standard to make it easier to challenge and remove educational materials. Florida already leads the nation in book bans. This bill doubles down on authoritarian practices like censorship and disproportionately targets books about LGBTQ+ people, race, and history. Denying students access to books doesn't protect them; it leaves them less informed, less prepared, and less able to think critically.

What happened: HB 1119 PASSED the House Education Administration Subcommittee by a vote of 13-5. This bill is being fast-tracked through the House, and it is scheduled to be heard in its final committee of reference, the Education and Employment Committee, on Tuesday, January 27th at 9:30am ET.

• How you can help: Send a message to the House Education and Employment Committee members and tell them to oppose HB 1119.

Pride at the Capitol volunteers testifying against a slate of extreme bills.

🚨OPPOSE: The Education Package (HB 1071/1090) 🚨
Sponsor: 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 House version of the bill also includes a provision facilitating law enforcement presence on school campuses, which can contribute to fear and intimidation of desperately needed school teachers and students who should be able to focus, work hard, and succeed. The Senate version would make Florida’s already limited sexual health education opt-in only, creating a new hurdle to important information.

What happened: HB 1071 PASSED the House Student Academic Success Subcommittee by a vote of 12-5. Next, the bill moves to the PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee for consideration.

How you can help: Tell the committee members of the House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee to oppose this bill.

🚨OPPOSE: Abusers’ Bill of Rights (HB 289/SB 164) 🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Sam Greco and Sen. Erin Grall

• What it does: The Abusers’ Bill of Rights is a dangerous anti-abortion measure that would give abusers a new legal weapon by allowing them to sue certain people who have accessed abortion care. For survivors of domestic violence, this opens the door to intimidation, retaliation, and continued control long after abuse has occurred. The bill claims to fix a problem that doesn’t exist, as Florida law already allows lawsuits for negligence and malpractice leading to pregnancy loss. The true purpose of this bill is to scare people out of accessing and providing reproductive healthcare, no matter the cost to survivors’ safety.
• What's happening: SB 164 is scheduled to be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice this Wednesday, January 28th at 3:45pm ET.
• How you can help: We need you to contact your Senator right away and urge them to oppose this dangerous bill.

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

• What it does: This 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 happening: HB 173 is scheduled to be heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee on Tuesday, January 27th at 12:30pm ET.
• How you can help: Contact lawmakers on the committee today and tell them to vote NO on HB 173.

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

In addition to legislative session, the Equality Florida team is tracking federal policies, gathering resources, and working with our legal and national partners to assess the impacts on LGBTQ Americans and to resist.

Here are some of the federal actions we’re monitoring that impact our community and ways to join us in the fight.

All Anti-Trans Riders Removed From Final Appropriations Bills

We have GOOD news out of Washington this week! As Congress continues its FY 2026 budget negotiations, early versions of key federal budget bills included dozens of sweeping anti-transgender provisions targeting health care and education. This week, the final versions of those bills were released — and after Democrats held the line and worked together, every anti-trans provision was stripped out.

While we know this is not the end of attacks on the LGBTQ community — especially transgender people — from the Trump administration and extremists in Washington, this outcome matters. It shows that sustained pressure, organizing, and leadership can stop harmful policies in their tracks. We’re grateful to the members of Congress who pushed back and helped ensure these dangerous provisions were removed from critical budget legislation

Read more on this development from Erin in the Morning.

As we continue over the next 47 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.