This legislative session, we proved once again: our voices matter, our actions matter, and people power wins.
Despite a sweeping wave of anti-LGBTQ attacks, together we stopped or neutralized 4 out of 5 harmful bills and secured emergency stopgap funding to protect HIV medication for 10,000+ Floridians.
One dangerous bill did pass, but not without fierce opposition. That pressure forced key carve-outs, including protections for the Pulse Memorial and the continued permitting of Pride festivals — proof that showing up makes a real difference in Tallahassee.
The fight isn’t over. But we’re incredibly proud to stand alongside a community that continues to show up, speak out, and push forward. THANK YOU. 🙌💚🌈
The 2026 Florida legislative session is officially over — so let’s get right into it.
Once again, DeSantis and extremist lawmakers manufactured a slate of some of the most sweeping anti-LGBTQ bills in the country. At the same time, the Florida Department of Health launched a cruel attack on public health by cutting funding for the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP), putting life-saving medication at risk for thousands of Floridians living with HIV.
The stakes could not have been higher. But when we rang the alarm, YOU brought the Resistance to Tallahassee every single day of Florida’s 60-day session.
And because of that relentless pressure, we stopped or neutralized FOUR out of FIVE anti-LGBTQ bills. We also helped secure crucial stopgap funding to protect ADAP — alongside our partners and HIV advocates — restoring access to HIV care for more than 10,000 people!
We won’t sugarcoat the fact that one dangerous bill did pass after a two-year fight— “Anti-Diversity in Local Government.” This sweeping legislation attempts to undermine how cities and counties celebrate and support the diverse communities they serve, particularly LGBTQ Floridians.
But it did not pass quietly or easily. The bill faced bipartisan opposition from local elected officials, lawmakers, and the public — forcing dozens of carve-outs, including protections for the Pulse Memorial in Orlando and the continued permitting of Pride festivals. And as we’ve done before, we will fight to limit the impact of this law every step of the way — including potentially in the courts.
None of these victories happened by accident. They happened because of the people power YOU brought to this fight.
#FlaPol #EqualityFlorida #LGBTQ #Resist #Flleg
Today, we’re proud to share an important update about the next chapter of this work. After nearly 30 years of building this movement alongside our community, Stratton Pollitzer has stepped into the role of Executive Director of Equality Florida!
Stratton isn’t new to this movement — or to this organization. Alongside Nadine Smith, he co-founded Equality Florida in 1997, at a time when LGBTQ Floridians had few rights and even fewer protections. This organization was born in resistance. Built to win.
Together, under Stratton’s leadership, we’ve helped end Florida’s ban on gay and lesbian adoption and secured marriage equality before any other Southern state. We’ve defeated harmful legislation year after year, even in one of the most hostile political climates in the country. And we’ve transformed classrooms with nationally recognized best practices for supporting LGBTQ youth — now benefiting more than two million students statewide.
As Executive Director, Stratton is upholding Equality Florida’s absolute commitment to racial justice, reproductive freedom, and transgender liberation — especially in this dangerous moment.
We know the moment we’re in. We know the attacks we’re facing. And we know this: Equality Florida was built for moments like this. Watch Stratton’s video, and let’s keep working towards a better Florida, together.
#EqualityFlorida #EQFL #LGBTQ #FrontlineFlorida #BlueprintFlorida
💛 Episode 2: Pride in Our Well Being
Caring for your child starts with caring for yourself.
This powerful conversation centers the mental and emotional well-being of LGBTQ2IA+ parents and caregivers — especially in the face of systemic stress and pressure. Together, we’ll explore how identity can be both a challenge and a source of strength, and how caring for your well-being is an act of pride.
📅 Wednesday, May 20 @ 5 pm ET / 2 pm PT
All are welcome. Register today at the 🔗 on our profile!
#MentalHealthAwareness #ParentWellbeing #LGBTQ2IA #CareForCaregivers
We are sounding the alarm over dangerous and politically motivated efforts to undermine surrogacy and in vitro fertilization and (IVF). These attacks broadly threaten reproductive freedom and the ability to start a family.
Attorney General Uthmeier’s lawsuit resembles failed legislative efforts to drastically restrict surrogacy and IVF. While these attacks threaten all Floridians, they are especially concerning for the LGBTQ community, which frequently faces fewer options for family formation.
Recent reporting has raised alarm among reproductive rights advocates, family law experts, and LGBTQ organizations after Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier intervened in a surrogacy dispute equating surrogacy to slavery and human trafficking. Those inflammatory and deeply offensive arguments could destabilize decades of family law and undermine protections for parents and children alike, including the legality of adoption in Florida.
Take action: join us at St. Augustine’s Pride Festival hosted by House of Prism!✊ We build crucial people power by engaging our communities at Pride. It will take all of us standing together to fight these attacks on our rights and our democracy.
Join Equality Florida’s Pride volunteer team to connect with your neighbors, recruit new advocates, and help build the resistance bigger and bolder than ever.
📅 Date: Sat. June 13, 2026
🕒 Time: 8:30am - 3:00pm
📍 Location: The Galimore Center & Eddie Vickers Park - St. Augustine, FL
Sign up here: https://www.mobilize.us/equalityflorida/event/951888/
#WontBackDown #HouseofPrism #StAugustinePride
You are not alone. If you or someone you know is in crisis, there are resources available to help. Support is just a call or text away. You are worthy of love, belonging, and good mental health.
#LGBTQSupport #MentalHealthMatters #YouAreNotAlone
Earlier this year, the Florida legislature passed bipartisan emergency stopgap funding to restore access to HIV medications for more than 10,000 Floridians through the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP). Now, as the Florida Legislature reconvenes for a special session to finalize the budget for the coming fiscal year, this is our window to ensure lawmakers make ADAP permanent. This isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do. People living with HIV are counting on us to speak out!
Contact your state lawmakers NOW and urge them to support funding ADAP in the state budget at the 🔗 on our profile!
Florida’s maps are changing, and a lot of you are asking the same question: what does this mean for our communities and our voice?
Let’s talk about it.
Join me on May 20 for an honest conversation about voting rights, redistricting, and what comes next for Florida. We’re bringing together advocates, legal minds, and community leaders because people deserve facts, clarity, and truth, not confusion and political spin.
🗓 Wednesday, May 20
🕡 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 Little Haiti Cultural Complex
(Registration Link in the bio)
Bring your questions. Bring your people. Let’s have the conversation.
Horrifying and heartbreaking child abuse. “...Brown reportedly told deputies that he decided to beat the victim because he was gay, stating he would ‘beat the gay out of him if it was possible, but since it wasn’t possible, he would beat him more.’”
This can never be tolerated. Equality Florida’s vital work to change hearts and minds continues. Every LGBTQ young person deserves respect and the chance to thrive.
If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse or harassment, please know you’re not alone. Reach out to Equality Florida for affirming resources, or call 211 for referrals or 911 in case of an emergency.
We had a blast celebrating music, arts, and LGBTQ Pride at the Be Fabulous Arts and Music Festival in Sarasota. The turnout was fantastic! Thank you @fabartsfoundation for hosting and giving our community a fun place to connect and gather! 😁🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈
#LGBTQPride #Pride
Happy Mother’s Day! 💐🫶
Today, Equality Florida celebrates all who embody the spirit of motherhood in its many diverse forms - those who nurture, protect, and love unconditionally. You are seen, valued, and cherished, and we are honored to celebrate you.
