Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonFebruary 7, 2018

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill by Sarasota Sen. Greg Steube, SB 1168, that the Consumer Protection Coalition said would “do little to protect consumers” from Assignment of Benefits abuse. The group said it prefers HB 7015 by Rep. Jay Trumbull, which includes modifications to one-way attorney fees which proponents say […]

Mitch PerryJanuary 17, 2018

Mayors Buddy Dyer and Andrew Gillum have signed on to a letter to the Florida congressional delegation demanding it includes a plan to address the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program in any proposal to keep the government running. Congress must pass a spending bill by midnight Friday or else parts of the government will shut down. […]

A.G. GancarskiJanuary 8, 2018

Last February, Jacksonville expanded its Human Rights Ordinance, giving protections to the LGBT community in the workplace, public accommodations, and housing markets. This February 3rd at the Florida Yacht Club, Equality Florida will honor the three sponsors of the legislation: City Council VP Aaron Bowman and Councilman Jim Love (two Republicans), and Councilman Tommy Hazouri (a Democrat). Unsurprisingly, […]

Peter SchorschDecember 29, 2017

‘Tis the season, and the Legislature’s dubious Christmas present this year was moving up the 2018 Legislative Session two months from its usual March start date. We will no doubt have many gifts in store, besides the inevitable policy food fights, such as perhaps seeing some lawmakers in their ugly holiday sweaters (the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicts “sunny, turning warm” for […]

Drew WilsonDecember 18, 2017

Fort Lauderdale City Commissioner Dean Trantalis picked up an endorsement for his mayoral campaign from LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida. Equality Florida announced the endorsement in a Friday email, with senior Political Director Joe Saunders calling Trantalis’ mayoral run “an unprecedented opportunity to elect a true champion for our LGBTQ community.” “When he’s elected, Dean […]

Mitch PerryNovember 30, 2017

Like his father, state Rep. Chris Latvala of Clearwater is a proud Republican who doesn’t always toe the GOP line – a contrarian streak which sometimes gets him into trouble. Not that Latvala, son of longtime state Sen. Jack Latvala, is that worried about that perception. “My grade with the NRA is a ‘D.’ And I’m proud of […]

Drew WilsonNovember 7, 2017

St. Petersburg voters chose Tuesday to give Mayor Rick Kriseman a second term and keep City Councilmember Darden Rice in place for another four years, both of which were cheered by LGBTQ rights group Equality Florida. “Tonight the LGBTQ community in Tampa Bay saw two of its most vocal champions re-elected for a second term. […]

Scott PowersOctober 30, 2017

The political committee for Florida’s largest LGBTQ public policy organization is endorsing Anna Eskamani in Florida’s House District 47. Equality Florida Action Political Action Committee announced Eskamani’s endorsement as the group’s first in the 2018 election cycle, noting that HD 47 is home to both a large lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, as […]

Mitch PerryOctober 24, 2017

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Former Raymond James Board Chair and CEO Tom James, Equality Florida’s Nadine Smith and two Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer players are featured in a two-minute, forty-second video intended to woo Amazon to the Tampa Bay-area for its second headquarters. Dozens of cities across the country had a Thursday deadline to submit their bid to land the […]

Tamara LushAugust 9, 2017

When 49 people were killed at a gay nightclub in Florida in 2016, Gov. Rick Scott publicly offered his sympathy to the victims’ families and the LGBT community. “These are individuals. Let’s love every one of them,” he said then. Behind the scenes, gay rights advocates say his staffers went a step further, promising to […]

Tag: Equality Florida

Capitol reax: AOB, Publix PrEP, campus ‘free speech,’ criminal justice, Rick Scott

Buddy Dyer, Andrew Gillum call on Congress to include DACA fix in budget bill

Jacksonville HRO sponsors to be honored, as fight to keep law commences

The 12 Days of Christmas, as brought to you by these Florida lobbyists and politicos

Equality Florida backing Dean Trantalis for Fort Lauderdale mayor

Chris Latvala goes to class

Equality Florida celebrates Rick Kriseman, Darden Rice wins

Equality Florida endorses Anna Eskamani in HD 47 race

Tampa Bay’s Amazon pitch features LGBT leader Nadine Smith, Rowdies players

Lawmaker: Governor’s office broke promise to LGBTQs