LGBTQ+ communities here in Florida are under constant attack, our very right to exist up for debate.
This campaign to dehumanize, to deny joy and a future, has been spearheaded by cruel right-wing conservatives. They fear the collective power and visibility of LGBTQ+ people, but more importantly, they fear the ways in which the community expands and reimagines the definitions of being.
It's no surprise, then, that so much of the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation introduced in the last few years has been focused on restricting bodily autonomy and free speech. Access to health care, freedom to make private medical decisions, space to simply talk about queerness — these are no longer guaranteed liberties in the state of Florida.
And now, as we inch closer to the November elections? The hateful, concerted efforts to destroy the community are reaching a fever pitch, especially for transgender people.
If the callous conservatives had their way, transgender folks wouldn't be able to use bathrooms that match their gender identity, or have identification documents that include their correct gender marker. Transgender youth would be prevented from participating in school sports — yes, even playing is being policed.
Additionally, state and local government employees may no longer be allowed to provide their own pronouns or attend trainings on sexual orientation and gender identity. Displaying Pride flags in governmental buildings or public schools might also soon be considered illegal.
The list goes on and on — countless pieces of legislation that seek to dismiss the dignity and humanity of LGBTQ+ Floridians.
We at Lambda Legal won't stand for it.
As the oldest and largest non-profit fighting for the rights of LGBTQ+ people and everyone living with HIV, we know what's at stake, as well as what it takes to secure the freedoms our communities deserve.
Since our founding 50 years ago, Lambda Legal has won landmark cases that remain a foundation of LGBTQ+ civil rights to this day, including victories regarding marriage equality, HIV discrimination, and the protection of LGBTQ+ students from harassment.
This is why we didn't hesitate to lead the charge on two of the biggest LGBTQ+ cases to hit Florida in recent memory.
In our Dekker v. Weida case in 2023, we successfully struck down a health care rule that denied coverage for transgender Medicaid beneficiaries. Because of this win, transgender Floridians, like plaintiffs August Dekker and Brit Rothstein, are able to receive life-saving, gender-affirming medical care.
That same year, we worked hard to quash the state’s infamous “Don’t Say LGBTQ+” law.
This archaic piece of legislation forbids teachers from discussing LGBTQ+ topics in schools, perpetuating harmful erasure in the same vein as book bans. The law also allows for school administrators to “out” students to their parents.
While our efforts may not always result in a win, we remain undeterred in our mission. When it comes to LGBTQ+ rights, Lambda Legal won't back down from a fight. We expect quite a lot of them this election year, especially here in Florida, but know this: We are ready.
Learn more about our vital work at LambdaLegal.org, and join us March 24, 2024, at Bonnet House Museum & Gardens in Fort Lauderdale.
