Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Mitch PerryNovember 25, 2015

Last week, Jupiter U.S. Rep. and U.S. Senate candidate Patrick Murphy joined 46 other House Democrats in voting for the SAFE Act, which requires new screening requirements for refugees from Syria and Iraq before they can enter the United States. That vote came despite a vow by President Barack Obama to veto the legislation should it […]

Ryan RayOctober 21, 2015

Rep. Julio Gonzalez filed his first bill of the 2016 legislative year on Wednesday, and it was a doozy: a proposal to give immunity to certain businesses that don’t want to render certain services on grounds of “religious freedom,” including private child-placement agencies. Specifically, the bill amends the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998” to read that […]

Associated PressOctober 21, 2015

Orange County’s government is ending domestic-partner benefits for unmarried same sex couples now that gay marriage is legal. County commissioners on Tuesday repealed the domestic partner benefits program for Orange County employees who are in unmarried gay relationships. The repeal takes effect at the start of next year. Eleven county employees use the program, and […]

Jim RosicaOctober 6, 2015

The group supporting a change to the state’s anti-discrimination law on Tuesday released a new poll showing 68 percent of Florida voters support their effort. Florida Businesses for a Competitive Workforce is pushing a bill (HB 45/SB 120) to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the current prohibitions against employment, retail and other discrimination in the state’s Civil Rights Act. […]

Jim RosicaSeptember 21, 2015

A seemingly unlikely coalition of progressive groups, conservative organizations and businesses now have coalesced to support an anti-discrimination bill that historically hasn’t found traction in the Legislature. The bill (HB 45/SB 120), known as the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act,” aims to prohibit employment, retail and other discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, amending the state’s […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 31, 2015

Earlier Monday, we discussed Anna Brosche’s decision not to participate in the Equality Florida gala Sept. 26. Is there a rift between the Jacksonville councilwoman and the group? According to Stratton Pollitzer of the Equality Florida Action PAC, not so much. “Here’s a little more context from us. Anna’s staff let us know that she was extremely […]

A.G. GancarskiAugust 31, 2015

During her campaign for Jacksonville’s City Council, Republican Anna Brosche represented what many moderates and liberals thought was a new type of Republican. Her enthusiasm for expanding the Human Rights Ordinance to the LGBT community delighted many Democrats who were appalled by the atavistic position taken by then-incumbent Kim Daniels, who described the HRO as a “very […]

Mitch PerryAugust 13, 2015

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Although same-sex marriage has been legal since the first week of 2015, a new lawsuit contends the Florida Bureau of Vital Statistics refuses to allow hospitals to list both same-sex parents on their baby’s birth certificate. Three married same-sex couples, including one based in St. Petersburg, and the LGBT activist group Equality Florida have filed […]

Frank TorresJuly 31, 2015

Equality Florida, a civil rights organization dedicated to securing equality for Florida’s LGBT community, has endorsed Carlos Guillermo Smith in the race for Florida House District 49. Smith worked for Equality Florida’s public policy team during this year’s Regular Session. In a message to supporters Equality Florida said, “In 2016, we’ll have a chance to […]

A.G. GancarskiJuly 31, 2015

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In a conference room in the suite of offices for Jacksonville’s City Council members, there is a distinctive picture of President Andrew Jackson that I had seen many times, yet I didn’t know any background about until I interviewed Councilman Tommy Hazouri on Friday. Hazouri casually remarked that he had been interning for former Jacksonville mayor Lou Ritter […]

Tag: Equality Florida

Patrick Murphy’s defense of Syrian refugee vote pummeled on Facebook

“Religious freedom” bill to prevent gay adoptions refiled for 2016

Orange County repeals benefits for unmarried gay couples

Poll shows growing support for anti-discrimination law

Anti-discrimination bill makes strange political bedfellows

Equality Florida: No rift with Anna Brosche

Citing “personal conflict,” Anna Brosche will not attend Equality Florida’s 9/26 Jax Gala

Florida sued for refusing to list both same-sex parents on birth certificates

Equality Florida endorses Carlos Smith in HD 49

Tommy Hazouri talks Jax City Council, HRO, Alvin Brown’s loss, and more