EMERALD COAST EQUALITY

The 2023 Legislative Session was rough for FL Democrats in general and specifically LGBTQ+ Floridians. Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration have made attacking the LGBTQ+ a top priority. Transgender youth in particular are at extreme risk. We must persist. We must rise up. We cannot give up or give in to the machinations of a fascist governor or his cronies. Emerald Coast Equality must now, more than ever, work to organize, educate and push back. Join today!

The point is intimidation: Florida teachers besieged by draconian laws. Great article from The Guardian! Kudos to Carol Cleaver, VP of Emerald Coast Equality and Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus Region 1 Alternate Director, and her colleagues for sharing their stories and speaking out! Read here

Floridians Protecting Freedom (FPF) is a statewide coalition of organizations and concerned citizens working together to protect Floridians’ access to reproductive health care and defend the right to bodily autonomy.

FPF recognizes that all Floridians deserve the freedom to make personal medical decisions, free of government intrusion. Their citizen-led ballot initiative, the “Amendment to Limit Government Interference with Abortion,” seeks to further codify that right into Florida law by creating a constitutional amendment that explicitly blocks the implementation of laws that prohibit, delay, or restrict abortion access.

We continue to encourage everyone to support the ballot initiative to get access to abortion on the Florida 2024 ballot. Petition collect is going very well, but more are needed. If you would like to download a petition to sign and mail in, or make a donation, visit www.FloridiansProtectingFreedom.com .Thanks to our friends at Equality Vines portion of proceeds of purchases of Choice wines at www.equalityvines.com/fpf are going to Floridians Protecting Freedom.

Please share the petition link with family and friends who are registered Florida voters and want to see the constitutional right to abortion protected. We need approximately 1 million signed petitions by the end of the year. The sooner we start sending them in the better!

Emerald Coast Equality is proud to be a sponsor of Stamped Film Festival, Oct 29-1. The free festival provides an inclusive experience through film and storytelling showcasing lived LGBTQ+ stories to cultivate a greater sense of community, understanding, and mutual respect. The festival will conclude with a special Family Day on Sunday 10/1 thanks to a grant from Sunday's Child.

Many in our community are worried about what Governor DeSantis’s Slate of Hate means for them and their families and have serious questions about the impacts of the bills that passed this year. To address those concerns and talk through them together, Equality Florida is hosting a Virtual Town Hall this Thursday, May 18 at 5:00 PM Central Time. RSVP HERE.

During the virtual town hall, staff will provide information, analysis, and resources to help you and your family navigate these new laws. Find out what’s next now that legislative session has ended, and how you can join the resistance to hold lawmakers accountable for voting against our community.

Additional preliminary guidelines below. More and refined guidance forthcoming. This guidance is not a substitute for legal advice.
Guidance doc - Anti-Drag Bill
Guidance doc - License to Discriminate in Healthcare Bill
Guidance doc - Anti-Trans Bathroom Bill
Guidance doc - Attacking Diversity & Freedom in Higher Ed

Let's move forward! Persist and Resist! We are excited to share some upcoming events and key dates.
Membership is open to any Democrat registered to vote in the State of Florida. Join/Renew Here.
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS:
Individual membership: $25
Household membership: $40 (2 members)
Young Democrat membership (age 18-30): $15 (NEW CATEGORY!)
Student membership: $5 (REDUCED RATE!)
Scholarships: We do not want financial barriers to impede participation. If due to hardship you would like to seek a scholarship, please email emeraldcoastequality@gmail.com and we will be happy to have that conversation on a case-by-case basis. (Scholarships may be limited to available funds.)

THANK YOU!
Thank you for your support and engagement. Unfortunately, we have much work to do. Let's do it together!

STATEMENT FROM JEFF NALL, PRESIDENT OF EMERALD COAST EQUALITY ON THE SIGNING OF THE RESPECT FOR MARRIAGE ACT

The Respect for Marriage Act, which was signed into law today by President Biden, should provide peace of mind to the millions of same-sex and interracial couples in America, and their families, at a time when so many of the rights Americans have counted on are no longer safe.

Emerald Coast Equality President Jeff Nall released the following statement on the milestone legislation:
“We are very pleased, not only with the bipartisan support, but also the support from more than 40 diverse faith communities. However, I do agree with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg that it is a strange feeling to see the durability of your marriage up for debate in Congress, especially at a time when 71% of Americans support marriage equality.

The key word here is respect. Respect for who each other loves and the commitment they have made to each other. That is what marriage is about, taking care of each other and family, whatever that may look like. The Respect for Marriage Act recognizes the importance of marriage and affirms that all couples, including same-sex and interracial couples, deserve respect, dignity, stability, and the ongoing protection of marriage.

My husband and I have been married for six years, together for 17. Our marriage is just as important to us as any other couple’s marriage and commitment is to them. Knowing that you will be treated equally and with respect is something that all married couples and all Americans deserve.

Though we celebrate this milestone today, we are reminded there is still work ahead to ensure full equality for the LGBTQ+ community and other marginalized groups that are so frequently under attack. LGBTQ people also still face discrimination at work, in healthcare, when renting or buying a home, when visiting loved ones in the hospital or simply when gathering with friends. We’ve seen the latter most recently with the horrific mass shooting of LGBTQ patrons and allies at Club Q in Colorado Springs and six years ago at Pulse in Orlando.

Full equality is a right that should be bestowed on all Americans and I hope this legislation is a step in that direction.”

The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus was represented at today’s historic signing by President Stephen Gaskill.

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Emerald Coast Equality is one of 25 chapters of The Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, which represents lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Floridians to the Florida Democratic Party.

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WHO WE ARE

Emerald Coast Equality is the Escambia County Chapter of the Florida LGBTQ+ Democratic Caucus, which represents the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community to the Florida Democratic Party. Our local chapter is one of 21 chapters across the state.

The Caucus is a voice that seeks to instill awareness of the freedoms of a democratic society, educate future leaders, support the community at large, and maintain an ongoing rapport and increasing viability with political entities

WHAT WE DO
We work to achieve our mission in four ways: Educate. Advocate. Support. Elect.

• Provide information, resources and support to our diverse LGBTQ+ community and its allies

•             Cultivate and campaign for candidates from the LGBTQ+ community and those who support our community.

•             Lobby for legislation and policies that recognize and strengthen our community.

•             Promote the ideals of the Democratic Party.

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