Keshet in Florida

The work to safeguard our Jewish and LGBTQ+ rights has never been more urgent. Now is the chance to contact YOUR lawmakers in Florida to advocate for pro-LGBTQ+ bills and fight against bad bills.

The Florida 2025 Legislative session is from March 4-May 2. During the 2024 Legislative session, 21 out of 22 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were defeated in Florida, thanks to the thousands of people who contacted their legislators to make their voices heard. In the spirit of the Jewish value Lo Libatel – Persistence, it is essential that we take action each year to ensure the safety of our community.

Equal rights and basic dignity for LGBTQ+ Floridians need to be protected. Judaism teaches us that:

Every person is created b’Tzelem Elohim, in the Divine image.
The principle of pikuach nefesh – saving lives – demands that we act to protect LGBTQ+ youth and adults from harm.
The Jewish value Rachamim – Compassion teaches us to have empathy, especially for those facing discrimination, and to take action because everyone deserves to live safely and in dignity.

To get involved in Florida, sign up here.

Resources

2025 Bills to Watch

Equality Florida Legislative Slate Tracker

SB 932/HB 823: Health Care Freedom Act (+)

The Health Care Freedom Act seeks to restore Floridians' fundamental rights and freedoms to make their own personal decisions about healthcare. This would provide life-saving healthcare for Floridians, including gender-affirming care for transgender patients and abortion access up to the third trimester. This bill would also restore parents’ rights to make decisions about their children's essential medical care and repeal the “License to Discriminate in Healthcare” law.

SB 930/HB 811: Freedom to Learn Act (+)

The Freedom to Learn Act seeks to safeguard academic freedom and ensure our schools teach honest history while respecting the dignity of students and their families. This bill will bring books back into schools and allow the accurate teaching of history, including LGBTQ+ history. Additionally, this bill will allow for affirming titles and pronouns for students and teachers and the continuation of Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion initiatives at Florida universities.

HB 1495/SB 440: Don’t Say Gay or Trans at Work Bill (-)

This bill would enact state regulations on pronoun use in public and certain private workplaces. It shields employees from accountability for anti-trans harassment and intentional misgendering and prohibits the inclusion of a transgender or nonbinary gender option on any job application or related employment form. This bill also prohibits LGBTQ-related cultural competency training requirements for government workers.

HB 731/SB 1710: Removing Diversity and Equity from State Agencies (-)

This legislation seeks to defund DEI in state agencies and bans state contractors and grantees from using state funds for required DEI instruction or practices. This bill risks leaving medical professionals less prepared to serve our diverse population.

HB 1539/SB 2692: Expanding Booking Banning (-)

This bill would increase book banning and censorship in Florida’s K-12 schools by rejecting a longstanding constitutional standard to make it easier to object to educational materials. This bill would give increased parental influence regarding book banning. Florida is already the state with the highest amount of banned books with 4,500 books banned in the past year. Further limiting students’ access to books only makes them less prepared to succeed.

HB 1571/SB 420: Anti Diversity in Local Government Bill (withdrawn from consideration)

This bill attempts to silence local governments from representing and legislating their values. It threatens the operation of nondiscrimination ordinances and could lead to removal of City and County Commissioners for any official action-past or future- that shows respect or “preferential treatment” based on race, color, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation. This could even ban local Pride Month or Black History Month celebrations.

HB 75/SB 100: Pride Flag Ban Bill (withdrawn from consideration)

This bill sought to regulate all pride items in schools and government buildings including flags, pins, safe space stickers, and more.

Pro-LGBTQ+ Laws

Protections against discrimination for LGBTQ+ youth in the child welfare system
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
Statewide data collection includes LGBTQ+ youth

Anti-LGBTQ+ Laws

The law prohibits changing gender markers on driver’s licenses
State bans transgender people from using bathrooms or facilities consistent with their gender identity
No recognition for parents using assisted reproduction
State law requires parental notification of LGBTQ+inclusive curricula and allows parents to opt children out
State law bans on best practice medical care for transgender youth
No private health insurance nondiscrimination laws
No ban on health insurance providers excluding coverage for transgender-specific care
No transgender inclusive health benefits for state employees
State law includes restrictions on drag performances
No adoption or foster care nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ parents
No second-parent adoption for unmarried couples or confirmatory adoption
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
No Statewide data collection for LGBTQ+ adults
No jury service non-discrimination for LGBTQ+ people
State does not allow the changing of Gender Marker on Birth Certificates
State has targeted religious exemption that permits medical professionals to decline to serve LGBTQ clients
State Medicaid policy explicitly excludes transgender-related health care for all ages.