LGBT issues came front and center during the Senate Judiciary Committee’s meeting Monday afternoon when that committee heard a bill to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identification.
SB 120, sponsored by Sen. Joe Abruzzo, D-Boynton Beach, would effectively prohibit any discrimination against the LGBT community. Also dubbed the “Florida Competitive Workforce Act,” the bill would prohibit discrimination in the workplace based on “race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin or age,” but also adds sexual orientation, gender identity or expression to the list of classes.
Lawmakers have pushed for the anti-discrimination bill for nearly a decade -- in 2016, Sen. Abruzzo is determined to make it a reality.
The bill was killed due to a tie vote at Monday’s meeting, but the committee will reconsider the proposal Tuesday.
Abruzzo’s legislation has already gathered the support of several Democratic lawmakers, but Democrats aren’t the only ones hopping onboard with the bill. Sens. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, and Travis Huston, R-Palm Coast,
“When you look back at women’s equality...the African American movement...how will we be judged today on our vote looking back on moving Florida [toward] the right for equality for Floridians?” asked Sen. Abruzzo at Monday’s meeting.
Committee members questioned whether or not potential employees actually skipped out of working in Florida due to a lack of anti-discrimination laws.
Abruzzo said “yes.”
“There have been people who were born and raised Floridians, that went to college here, but took jobs in other states because they felt that they were not protected,” Abruzzo explained to the committee.
Much of the meeting’s discussion centered around various amendments put forth by state lawmakers, including one by Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, which would have removed “expression” from the legislation.
Public testimony was a mixed bag, with some in support of the legislation while others expressed hesitations about the potential effects the bill would have, especially on victims of sexual abuse.
“SB 120... increases the likelihood that victims of sexual abuse will be retraumatized,” said Caleb Dalton, legal counsel for the Alliance Defending Freedom. “Subjecting our women and children to this...could trigger..the emotional trauma and harm that they’ve already experienced.”
Dalton said the legislation would amplify the probability of male sexual predators “masquerading” as women to prey on innocent victims.
Denise Brogan-Kator, State Policy Director at Family Equality Council, a national advocacy group representing 3 million LGBTQ parents nationwide, recalled working as a Vice President of Finance for a corporation in Pinellas County. She told the committee she worked hard at her job, saving the company from bankruptcy.
But that didn’t last long -- once Brogan-Kator’s boss found out she was transgender, her career was over.
“Despite my performance and glowing reviews, when they found out I was transgender, I was fired on the spot,” she explained, saying she was devastated both professionally and financially by being terminated so abruptly.
The legislation has won the favor of many businesses, which say the proposal could broaden hiring prospects and would be good for the state’s business community.
Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, moved to reconsider the bill at Tuesday’s meeting where it will be given a second chance at moving forward during this year’s legislative session.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
