Florida Gay rights organizations are slamming a proposed bill that they say would cripple LGBTQ nonprofit groups in Florida.
Republican State Representative Ryan Chamberlin filed HB 599 that would prevent nonprofit groups or any employers who receive state funding from requiring training on “sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.”
If enacted in the upcoming Florida session, it would be a major expansion from the initial focus on schools in the Parental Rights in Education Act, called the “don’t say gay” law by critics
Chamberlin said the legislation was needed “to protect Florida’s non-profit workers.”
Like what we have seen in Florida from DeSantis in the last two years, this new legislation could have a devastating domino effect on Florida LGBTQ+.
The bill was seen by LGBTQ nonprofit groups as a major threat to their very existence and survival.
Todd Delmay, Executive Director of Miami’s SAVE said “It would be devastating to organizations like ours. It could make very difficult the work we have done for 30 years protecting, promoting and defending equality for LGBTQ+ people in Florida. But that’s the point. … It is primarily meant to sow division and fear.”
Delmay said his group receives little direct state funding, but he fears the bill could be used as a way to place restrictions even on local funding. Delmay said “They would argue that state funds were being used improperly and ultimately restrict or end local governments from making their own decisions,” Delmay said. “This would have a devastating domino effect on our work.” He added that other donors may “overreact” and start to worry whether they should stop donating to organizations.
Robert Boo, the Executive Director of one of America’s largest Pride Centers, Wilton Manors based Pride Center At Equality Park said the state money the group receives through the Department of Health is “not a huge component of our funding, but it would impact us absolutely. And some organizations are totally dependent on government funding.” He said his group will fight against the bill, including in court if it becomes law. Boo added “Trying to prevent us from doing any cultural proficiency training in the LGBT community? It’s absolutely ridiculous.”
Jamie Henkel, PFLAG National Interim Director of Learning and Inclusion raised a similar alarm on targeting LGBTQ+ nonprofits. PFLAG has 18 chapters in Florida and partners with businesses through its Straight For Equality program. Henkel said it “demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of economics, and Floridians should be concerned. Companies know that inclusive benefits, programs, and policies are good for business, employees, and communities. With so many issues to focus on and try to solve, HB 599 is a distraction – and a dangerous one, at that.”
The bill includes sweeping sections that limit personal titles, pronouns, and protection for “deeply held religious or biology-based beliefs, including a belief in traditional or Biblical views of sexuality and marriage, or … disagreement with gender ideology.”
Carlos Guillermo Smith, a senior policy adviser for Equality Florida and running for State Senate, criticized Chamberlin’s reasoning. “I’ve already read some of his justification for bringing the bill forward, about needing to ‘protect workers’ and some other nonsense. But Florida workers don’t need protection from pronouns or inclusive work environments, they need better wages and lower costs to be able to afford living here.”
The top criticism on the bill was on being vague. Professor Koger said “Vagueness is a choice. Are they trying to chill behavior and speech without actually banning it? … It makes it harder for citizens and businesses and nonprofits to navigate the legal environment.”
Equality Florida Guirmo-Smith provided a chilling pessimistic warning to the entire LGBTQ+ community by saying “Voters across the political spectrum are exhausted by DeSantis’ culture wars. It’s why his own standing has fallen here in the state of Florida after being reelected by 19 percentage points. But culture wars are all Florida Republicans have … Now they’re extending this nonsense into private workplaces and nonprofit charities. Where will it end?” #Queer Up South Florida & Florida