TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – PFLAG and Equality Florida are urging parents, families and allies to travel to the state Capitol next week to oppose several measures they say would harm LGBTQ+ youth and families.
Lawmakers and state agencies are advancing proposals that organizers say would expand so-called “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” restrictions into workplaces, reduce HIV funding that could affect thousands of Floridians and roll back protections for LGBTQ+ youth in foster care, including measures that could allow conversion practices, the groups said.
One is House Bill 374 or Senate Bill 426, which is called “Adoption and Display of the Flags by Governmental Entities.” Critics call it a Pride Flag Ban, and it’s sponsored by Jacksonville-based Sen. Clay Yarbrough.
House Bill 641 or Senate Bill 1642, which critics refer to as the “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” at work bill. The bill reads that any rule “prohibiting employees and contractors of certain employers from being required to use certain pronouns” will be invalidated.
House Bill 742 or Senate Bill 1010 prohibits “Sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures.” Critics like Cindy Nobles, President of PFLAG, said it targets doctors and teachers.
“This is the worst and most harmful set of legislation that we’ve seen since 2023,” Nobles said. “I wish I understood because all this community wants is to be accepted and left to live in peace. No one here’s hurting anybody.”
There’s also a change in rules at the Department of Children and Families. Equality Florida is another advocacy group for the LGBTQ community that claims it will roll back protections for LGBTQ youth in foster care and possibly bring back conversion therapy for youth. It’s a practice PFLAG adamantly opposes and Nobles said forces youth back into the closet.
But in the Republican dominated legislature, there is a lot of support for many of these moves, like on the preferred pronoun bill pitched by Sen. Stan McClain of Ocala, who recently said, “Employees shouldn’t be forced to choose between their conscience and their jobs. Taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to fund discrimination against people.”
Equality Florida is organizing buses to make it easier for people across the state to attend key committee hearings. PFLAG said the organizations are asking families and allies to join them in Tallahassee the week of Feb. 16-19 to show a united presence for LGBTQ+ families.
“Because this is such a critical week and they’re hearing so many bad bills they’re funding buses that are taking folks from the Orlando and Tampa area…but because not as far for us they’re helping to get a large passenger van,” Nobles said.
For those with transportation challenges, organizers said they are renting a large passenger van that will carry up to 15 people to Tallahassee on Feb. 17 or Feb. 18.
Organizers asked interested people to contact PFLAG or Equality Florida for details about schedules, bus routes and how to reserve a seat.