Florida Realtors join coalition to pass Competitive Workforce Act

Florida Realtors today announced joining the 23-member coalition of major employers to support legislation updating the state’s discrimination protections for employment, housing and public accommodations.

As the newest member of Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce, Florida Realtors is the largest trade association in the state, with more than 140,000 members. They are part of a grassroots movement backed by more than 200 Florida businesses, each seeking passage of the Competitive Workforce Act.

For the upcoming 2015 Legislative Session, Florida lawmakers will consider House Bill 33, filed by Key Largo Republican Rep. Holly Raschein and Senate Bill 156, by Democratic Sen. Joe Abruzzo of Wellington.

Both bills combined are known as The Competitive Workforce Act.

If passed, the Act updates Florida’s anti-discrimination law, creating uniform protections statewide in an effort to help attract and retain the best employees.

In a statement, Florida Realtors President Andrew Barbar said his organization is proud to “support any public policy measure that promotes fair housing and helping Floridians achieve the dream of homeownership.”

Citing a recent survey, Barbar, a broker with Keller Williams Realty Services in Boca Raton, said more than Florida Realtor members agreed the association should support legislation to prohibit discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity.

“After reviewing the survey results and hearing from our internal Diversity Committee,” he added, “the Board of Directors voted to support legislation that would prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.”

The coalition of leading Florida employers is backing the Competitive Workforce Act, which they say will give the state a competitive advantage in the modern marketplace.

“The National Association of Realtors recently amended the Realtor Code of Ethics to include sexual orientation and gender identity among its fair housing protections,” said David Hall, chair of Florida Realtors’ Diversity Committee. Hall is also a broker-associate with Coldwell Banker Residential in Port St. Lucie

“This legislation has the strong backing of Florida Realtors who continue to promote fair housing laws and property rights,” he said.

Currently, 18 states and Washington, D.C. offer housing protections for gay and transgender people, with three more providing protections for gay people, but not those who are transgender.

Although Florida does not provide consistent statewide protections, 28 municipalities in the Sunshine State – covering more than 50 percent all Floridians – protect their residents from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

With the addition of Florida Realtors, the 24 coalition members now include the AmericanAirlines Arena, Bilzin Sumberg, C1Bank, Carlton Fields Jorden Burt, Carnival Corporation, CSX, Darden, Florida Blue, the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, Haskell, HSN, Marriott, the Miami HEAT, NextEra Energy, Office Depot, On Top of the World Communities, Raymond James, St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce, Tech Data, the University of North Florida, Walt Disney World Resorts, Wells Fargo and Winn Dixie.