Florida - Keshet

Keshet is working with secular LGBTQ+ rights organizations and Jewish organizations to fight for LGBTQ+ equality in Florida. Along with local synagogues, we are working with Equality Florida to mobilize Jewish communities for LGBTQ+ rights. To get involved in Florida, sign up here.

(IN PERSON) Equality Florida Lobby Day 2023

Equality Florida is hosting their annual Lobby Days Program for 2023 and we will be there! Lobby Day is one of Equality Florida’s biggest and most essential programs of the year, where volunteers travel to Tallahassee and become advocates by meeting with state lawmakers on LGBTQ+ issues. Meeting with legislators is one of the best ways to hold our state officials accountable during this legislative session. Join our Director of Community Mobilization, Jon Cohen, in person in Tallahassee to make our voices heard.

Monday, March 13
Challenger Learning Center of Tallahassee
200 S Duval St., Tallahassee, FL
RSVP here.
Questions? [email protected].*

*If the registration fee or transportation costs are a barrier to your participation, please reach out to us.

2023 Bills to Watch

Equality Florida Legislative Slate Tracker

"Don’t Say LGBTQ” Expansion Bill (HB 1223/SB 1320)

This bill expands on last year’s bill that banned books, made classrooms more hostile for LGBTQ youth, and encouraged lawsuits against school districts. It would censor teaching anything about sexual orientation or gender identity up through 8th grade, broaden the bases for book bans, and forbid any use of pronouns that respect a transgender student’s identity. The House version also enforces the ban on charter schools and private pre-kindergarten.

The Trans Ban Bill (HB 1421)

This bill limits the medical freedom of transgender Floridians, with impacts ranging from the banning of lifesaving medical care for transgender youth to restricting transgender Floridians access to private insurance and banning their legal recognition via birth certificate.

Criminalizing Gender Affirming Care Bill (SB 254)

This bill targets the parents of transgender youth and providers of healthcare, threatening criminal sentences for helping transgender youth access life saving healthcare. It restructures Florida law on parental custody disputes and effectively treats parents seeking affirming care for transgender youth as child abusers. It empowers the government to remove children from an affirming parent by favoring custody for a parent or guardian who is unsupportive of gender affirming care.

Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill (SB 1674)

This bill would prohibit gender-inclusive restrooms and changing facilities in schools, private businesses, public shelters, and healthcare facilities. Transgender people shouldn’t be criminalized for using the bathroom that matches the gender they live in every day.

The Anti-Drag Bill (HB 1423/SB 1438)

Live performance art, including drag, is a powerful form of freedom of expression that can educate, empower, and entertain. Florida law already prohibits exposing minors to shows considered sexually explicit or harmful, but this bill expands state law to include vague language that can be used to attack our drag community. It threatens venues that host drag performances with steep fines and injects the government into a parent’s right to determine what art and entertainment content is appropriate for their own children.

Pro-LGBTQ+ Laws

Protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system
State issues new birth certificate and does not require sex reassignment surgery nor court order in order to change gender marker
State law does not require publication of name change announcement
- However, there are additional restrictions and/or requirements for individuals with a criminal record
Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in employment, housing, and public accommodations
Nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ state employees
Hate crime law covering sexual orientation only

Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

No adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents
No second-parent adoption for unmarried couples
State family leave policies do not include inclusive definitions of spouse/partner/parent/child
Hate crime law does not cover gender identity
Broad religious exemption law which weaponizes religion as justification for LGBTQ+ discrimination
No nondiscrimination or anti-bullying laws/policies covering LGBTQ+ students
State curriculum not required to be LGBTQ+ inclusive
State law censors discussions of LGBTQ+ people or issues in school (i.e., “Don’t Say Gay or Trans”)
No nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people in credit/lending
No conversion therapy ban covering LGBTQ+ youth
Gay/trans panic defense is not banned
State law prevents transgender students from participating in sports consistent with their gender identity
State criminalizes transmission of HIV
State law prevents transgender students from using school facilities consistent with their gender
State law bans schools and districts from passing LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination and/or anti-bullying policies
No gender-neutral options on driver’s license or birth certificate