ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Today Equality Florida announced that Former State Representative Joe Saunders is rejoining the organization’s staff as the new Senior Political Director. In this role Saunders will be charged with leading the organization’s civic engagement programs, pro-LGBTQ mobilization efforts, and electoral programs. After nearly a ten year tenure serving as Equality Florida’s Field…
ORLANDO, Fla. – Today Equality Florida announced the launch of the #HonorThemWithAction Campaign, a nationwide commemoration of the Pulse massacre that calls on individuals and organizations to honor those killed by taking action to uproot the hatred that feeds bullying, harassment, discrimination, and violence. June 12, 2016, the Orlando community was rocked by the massacre…
ORLANDO, Fla. – Equality Florida today announced their partnership with the Contigo Fund, an initiative of Our Fund Foundation. In August of last year, Equality Florida launched its new Safe & Health Schools Project just two months after the horrific shooting at Pulse Nightclub, seeking to end LGBTQ bias where it begins, in schools. In…
ORLANDO, Fla. – Equality Florida today announced a total of more than $9.5m has been raised for the victims of the horrific Pulse Nightclub shooting largely through a record-setting GoFundMe campaign that drew more than 120,000 donors from over 120 countries. GoFundMe and Equality Florida teamed up to release a powerful video featuring survivors of…
ORLANDO, Fla. – Friday, Equality Florida made a significant policy announcement to formally endorse common sense gun violence prevention policies in response to the hate-fueled attack in Orlando this past June, targeting the LGBTQ community at Pulse nightclub’s Latin night. The announcement includes a position paper detailing the deep history of hate violence against the…
ORLANDO, Fla. – Equality Florida’s fundraising efforts for the victims’ families and survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting have raised over $8 million, the vast majority from a GoFundMe campaign that has drawn nearly 120,000 contributors from across the world; as well as pledges from corporate sponsors and grassroots fundraising efforts locally and globally. “It…
An online fundraiser for the victims of the Pulse Nightclub shooting set up by Equality Florida has raised $7M in a campaign that continues to break records for online philanthropy. Equality Florida launched the GoFundMe campaign hours following news of the horrific shooting with an initial goal of raising $100,000. The campaign became the quickest to…
A year after a federal judge ruled Florida’s gay marriage ban unconstitutional, the state is finally taking steps to make the necessary updates to marriage and death certificates. Friday is the anniversary of District Judge Robert Hinkle’s ruling. But even after it took effect Jan. 6, Florida’s marriage applications and certificates would allow entries only…
In a bipartisan vote, the Florida Senate today gave final approval to a bill designed to help more foster children find permanent homes. The bill also removes an outdated and unconstitutional ban on gays and lesbians adopting children. Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Destin, spoke eloquently in urging his colleagues not to be swayed by…
Today the Florida House voted by 75-38 to advance a measure that would enshrine discrimination rights into Florida law by allowing any private adoption agency — both secular and religious, including agencies that receive taxpayer dollars — to discriminate against qualified prospective parents based on the agency’s religious or political beliefs, including those regarding sexual…
