Equality Florida Action Inc

Programs: Advocacy: equality florida has continued to block every piece of proposed anti-lgbt legislation in tallahassee since formed 20 years ago. In 2017 we fought and eventually neutralized a religious expression in schools bill, and continue to monitor its implementation to ensure it is not used to justify discrimination against minority students. We continued to build bipartisan legislative support for a statewide uniform nondiscrimination policy that includes protections for lgbt floridians, with an unprecedented 70 co-sponsors between the house and the senate and from both sides of the aisle. (continued on schedule o)we deepened our relationship with the florida chamber of commerce, attending candidate interviews, the future of florida forum, and successfully advocated to include questions regarding lgbt workplace protections on the chamber's political institute candidate evaluation forms. On the local level, equality florida has been instrumental in the passage of more than 170 local policies, including nondiscrimination, domestic partnership, safe schools, tax equity and equal benefits ordinances. In 2017, we provided local support and lobbied to ban conversion therapy in cities and counties around the state, succeeding in tampa, which became the 18th municipality in the state to institute a ban. We were a key partner in the jacksonville coalition for equality, a group of 700+ businesses and 200+ local faith leaders, and played a pivotal role in the passage of the jacksonville hro in early 2017. We provided local support for a human rights ordinance (hro) campaign in alachua county.

outreach: we canvassed extensively in central and south florida, identifying 30,000 new lgbt-friendly supporters. Equality florida was instrumental in the formation of florida businesses for a competitive workforce, a coalition of florida-based fortune 500 companies and other major florida employers who believe statewide lgbt protections will make florida more competitive in the national and global marketplace. We continue to actively participate as a member of this broad and growing coalition.

mobilization: increased supporter base by 34,000 through canvassing at pride and other local events around the state. Mobilized members and supporters to contact legislators on pending legislation, the governor's office on a non-discrimination policy, and local city and county commissions on conversion therapy bans, human rights ordinances. In february 2017, jacksonville passed a lgbtq-inclusive human rights ordinance with our support as a founding member of the jacksonville coalition for equality, a group of 700+ local businesses and 200+ local faith leaders.