Resistance Report Week 8: Anti-Diversity Bill Passed the Florida Senate
This week in Tallahassee, the “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” bill took center stage in the Florida Senate. And while the bill ultimately advanced, the full force of our resistance was on display.
Local leaders from across Florida have stepped forward to sound the alarm. Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch, Fernandina Beach City Commissioner Genece Minshew, Tallahassee City Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, and Leon County Commissioner David O’Keefe held a press conference urging lawmakers to reject these attacks on local government and the diverse communities they serve. Their leadership helped spark coverage from dozens of media outlets across the state, adding critical pressure as lawmakers prepared for a final vote.
Then came the Senate floor session — a grueling and emotional process that consumed nearly the entire day on this single bill. Democratic senators pressed the bill’s sponsor, Senator Clay Yarborough, with tough questions aimed at exposing the true intent of the legislation and forcing important carve-outs onto the record.
In more than four hours of debate, Senator Yarborough could barely bring himself to say the word “LGBTQ,” repeatedly referring instead to “a particular community.” Yet it became painfully clear what was happening: while the sponsor was willing to carve out protections for some communities, he refused to extend the same consideration to LGBTQ Floridians.
That attempt to single out our community became the focus of powerful floor speeches from senators including Carlos Guillermo Smith, Shevrin Jones, Tina Polsky, and others who refused to let it go unanswered.
In the end, the bill passed the Senate 25–11. But make no mistake, this was no quiet or easy victory for the supermajority. The Senate spent much of the day defending and debating a single bill because Floridians like you have been calling, emailing, organizing, and demanding accountability.
And that pressure made a difference. Important carve-outs were secured during the debate, including an amendment led by Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith ensuring that the City of Orlando can continue building and operating the Pulse Memorial, preserving a sacred place of remembrance for our community.
The fight isn’t over. The bill now heads to the House floor, with a final vote expected this week. And we will continue using every opportunity, inside and outside the Capitol, to expose the harm this bill would cause and to stand up for the communities it targets.
Your calls. Your emails. Your presence in Tallahassee. Your voices in the media. It is all making an impact.
Keep reading the Resistance Report for updates on the other priority bills we’re actively tracking and the ways Floridians are continuing to fight back.
This week’s WINNER is Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith for his tireless leadership in the fight against the “Anti-Diversity in Local Government” bill. His emotional floor speech and relentless questioning before the final Senate vote were a powerful reminder of why LGBTQ representation in the Capitol matters so deeply. Senator Smith secured the only LGBTQ-specific carveout in the bill, a narrow but deeply meaningful amendment allowing the City of Orlando to continue funding the building and operation of the Pulse Memorial. Senator Smith is a true champion for our community. Even with a supermajority, this bill was not easy to pass through the Senate, and Senator Smith’s leadership made sure our voices were heard every step of the way.
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Now, let’s take you through exactly what happened this week, what's still coming, and how you can take action.
🚨OPPOSE: Anti-Diversity in Local Government (HB 1001/SB 1134)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Dean Black and Sen. Clay Yarborough
- What it does: This bill is a state sledgehammer to stop cities and counties from any action that recognizes and responds to differences based on race, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation, with limited exceptions. It would repeal existing programs, ban their funding, and threaten city and county officials with removal from office for anything vaguely labeled “diversity, equity, or inclusion.” Local elected officials have stated that its vagueness and extreme penalties would stop local governments from a range of actions like hosting or supporting Prides, offering LGBTQ+ cultural competency training, recognizing Black History Month, or having women and minority-owned business programs.
- What happened: SB 1134 PASSED out of the Senate by a vote of 25-11 with Senator Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) joining Senate Democrats in voting no. Next, the bill will head to the House for consideration and a final vote.
🚨OPPOSE: Don’t Say Gay or Trans at Work (HB 641/SB 1642)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Rachel Plakon, Rep. Danny Nix, and Sen. Stan McClain
- What it does: This is grievance legislation, rooted in legitimizing deeply offensive and hostile anti-transgender speech in the workplace. It brings Florida’s culture wars directly into public and many private workplaces. It would shield employees from accountability for intentionally misgendering transgender coworkers, and even prohibits job applicants from identifying as transgender or nonbinary on job applications. The bill also seeks to block LGBTQ-inclusive cultural competency training in certain workplaces, making environments less safe and less inclusive. This bill undermines basic dignity and professionalism in the workplace.
- What's happening: We are inching closer to the finish line, and HB 641 hasn’t been scheduled for a final vote on the House floor yet. While we’re hopeful this bill won’t cross the finish line, we must remain vigilant and keep the pressure on!
- What's next: Contact your State Representative and Senator right away and urge them to OPPOSE SB 1642/HB 641.
🚨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’s happening: We are inching closer to the finish line, and HB 743 hasn’t been scheduled for a final vote on the House floor yet. While we’re hopeful this bill won’t cross the finish line, we must remain vigilant and keep the pressure on!
What's next: Send an email to your State Representative and Senator right away telling them to OPPOSE HB 743/SB 1010.
🚨OPPOSE: Police State Bills (Outlawing Activism) (HB 1471/SB 1632) 🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Hillary Cassel and Sen. Erin Grall
- What it does: This legislation is an outrageous escalation of state terror for disagreeing with the government. It creates a vague, new designation of “domestic terrorist organization” for organizations engaging in allegedly dangerous activities intended to “coerce” the public or influence government policy “by intimidation or coercion.” Felony penalties apply for donating to, advising, or volunteering with an organization that one knows is a domestic terrorist organization or engages in such activity would constitute a felony, and for becoming a member of such organization with intent to further its allegedly illegal activity.
- What’s happened: HB 1471 PASSED out of the Florida House by a vote of 81-26, with Rep. Kimberly Daniels (D-Jacksonville) joining unanimous Republican support in that chamber. It then went to the Senate for consideration and passed by a vote of 25-11 with Senators Ileana Garcia (R-Miami) and Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) joining Democrats in opposing the bill. Since the bill was amended in the Senate, it will now head back to the House for another final vote.
🚨OPPOSE: New Barriers to Voting (HB 991/SB 1334)🚨
Sponsors: Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Rep. Dana Trabulsy and Sen. Erin Grall
- What it does: The onerous new proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration and verification in the New Barriers to Voting bills are rooted in a false narrative about voter fraud and introduce an expensive and burdensome new requirement that will lead to more eligible voters being disenfranchised. These pose particular risk for voters who have changed their names for marriage or other reasons, whose legal name no longer matches proof of citizenship documents like a birth certificate, or don’t have a Florida driver’s license or state ID.
- What’s happening: HB 991 has been sent to the Senate for consideration, and the Senate is to take up its version on Wednesday. We know this anti-democracy bill remains a legislative priority, and we must keep the pressure on.
- How you can help: Email your State Senator and urge them to vote NO on HB 991/SB 1334.
🚨OPPOSE: The Education Package (HB 1071/SB 1090) 🚨
Sponsors: 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 Senate version would make Florida’s already limited sexual health education opt-in only, creating a new hurdle to important information.
- What’s happened: This bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration. As of today, the Senate has yet to add it to their agenda.
- How you can help: Tell your State Senator to oppose HB 1071/SB 1090 if it comes up for consideration.
As we continue over the next 5 days, we must remember that our voices matter, our actions matter, and our movement matters.