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We must invest in our communities to effect lasting change and ensure voter

The recent surge in anti-LGBTQ legislation has cast a shadow over the sunshine state. We have seen an alarming increase in hateful rhetoric surrounding our community, particularly from the governor's office, the state legislature, and the state's educational and medical boards. We must empower pro-equality voters and their allies in the fight against harmful legislation by facilitating new voter registration and ensuring voter turnout.

Hardly four months into the year, the Human Rights Campaign has already tracked 340 anti-LGBTQ bills across the nation. Despite this strong push for legislation that is harmful to the community, the HRC reports that less than 10 percent of anti-LGBTQ bills in 2022 passed, proving that there is no mass support for such laws. Of course, even a single anti-LGBTQ law can have devastating effects, and it is distressing to witness states like Florida setting the trend for an increasing number and intensity of anti-LGBTQ bills. Still, these 2022 findings indicate that we can prevent harmful legislation from being passed by becoming active participants in our communities.

Florida's 2023 legislative session is setting a dangerous precedent nationally. Among the most alarming anti-LGBTQ bills proposed is HB 1223 / SB 1320, sponsored by Representative Anderson and Senator Yarborough. The bill essentially expands Gov. DeSantis's Parental Rights in Education Act, infamously referred to as the "Don't Say Gay" law, seeking to extend restrictions on education regarding sexual orientation and gender identity through eighth grade and prohibiting schools from using inclusive pronouns. What's more, HB 1403 / SB 1580, sponsored by Rep. Rudman, will grant healthcare providers and insurers the right to dubiously discriminate and deny critical medical care based on religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. This is essentially legalizing discrimination. Our organization actively monitors legislation and keeps voters well-informed to combat this wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation.

A recent report projects that the pro-LGBTQ voting bloc will transform the election landscape in the coming decades, accounting for nearly one-in-five (17.8%) voters by 2040. This data is remarkable, considering LGBTQ Americans typically favor candidates who support Democratic-leaning policies. In fact, an HRC poll concluded that LGBTQ voters and their allies overwhelmingly voted for Democratic candidates during the 2022 midterm elections, dissuaded from voting for candidates whose platforms consisted of attacks against LGBTQ people. We can become a part of this cultural shift by acquiring and retaining the LGBTQ vote and that of their allies, thus maximizing our voting potential.

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We must continue our fight against discrimination and protect the civil rights of all Americans

Freedom of religion is a fundamental civil right for all Americans. Sadly, this freedom is often used to justify discrimination against historically marginalized groups, such as people of color, interracial couples, women, people of minority faiths, and LGBTQ people. To ensure equality and freedom for current and future generations, we must endorse legislation that provides federal civil rights to all Americans. Pro-equality bills such as the Equality Act will extend necessary protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in daily aspects of life, such as in the workplace and healthcare.

Freedoms for all Americans

Freedom of religion should acknowledge and protect the beliefs of all Americans, not just a select few. Religious pluralism, which asserts that religious belief systems can co-exist in society and should, in turn, be recognized and tolerated, best exemplifies freedom of religion. We should encourage our government to move away from a Christian-centric administration and revert to religious pluralism, which accurately reflects the diverse beliefs in our country.

Religious freedom should never be used to discriminate against marginalized communities. Such discrimination was apparent in the Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission case, which ruled in favor of a baker who refused to design a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple based on the owner's Christian beliefs. Instead, religious freedom should safeguard the right to practice religion in whichever way citizens see fit.

Likewise, all Americans deserve a non-discriminatory workplace. The Supreme Court ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County of 2020, for one, validated the significance of workplace protections, with even conservative judges Neil M. Gorsuch and John Roberts ruling against workplace LGBTQ discrimination in this momentous case. Evidently, there is a consensus that workplace discrimination should never be excused under the guise of religious freedom.

Nevertheless, workplace protections are being threatened by dubious legislatures. For example, the Supreme Court recently announced they would hear the Groff v. DeJoy case, which could allow religious conservatives to reject certain workplace rules. Naturally, the implications of such a case are distressing, considering it would give employers the power to impose their religious beliefs on employees of minority faiths and discriminate against historically marginalized groups. As conscientious citizens, it is our ethical duty to protect the right of all Americans in the workplace by supporting freedom for all.

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Dear SAVE Family,

I hope this message finds you doing well and filled with the hope and renewal that comes with the start of a new year. This year, SAVE celebrates its 30th Anniversary. I am proud to be part of the organization's history as a volunteer, donor, Board Member, Board Chairman, and Executive Director since 2019. When I joined SAVE as the Executive Director, I committed to four years of service to the Board of Directors at a time when we needed to focus on the 2020 and 2022 election cycles and fortifying the organization for a stronger future.

It is a bittersweet moment for me as I announce that I am departing from my role as SAVE’s Executive Director at the end of 2023. I wanted to make sure you heard it from me. I also wanted to make sure that our community knows that I am not saying “goodbye” to SAVE— – not in the least bit. Not only am I committed to ensuring a successful onboarding for the new Executive Director, but I will continue to serve as a senior advisor to the new Executive Director and to the Board of Directors. Although I do not yet know what the future brings for me, my dedication to SAVE and the LGBTQ+ community will continue no matter what.

And while we search for my replacement, my work and commitment as Executive Director is far from over. This year, I will continue to lead the organization through the 2023 election cycle and in planning for the 2024 Presidential election cycle by addressing the shortcomings from this past November. This includes greater efforts to increase voter registration of pro-LGBTQ+ supporters, coalition building with organizations committed to LGBTQ+ equality, and effective data-driven efforts to get out the vote (GOTV).

I have been so proud to serve as the Executive Director these last four years and want to express my deep gratitude to every one of you. Your trust and support of SAVE has made all the difference in our accomplishments.

My time as Executive Director has been marked by historical events including the COVID-19 pandemic, a rise in anti-LGBTQ+ mobilization such as demonstrations, political violence, and offline propaganda activity, and an alarming rise in LGBTQ-phobia, especially transphobia from state leadership in public policy and in our schools. With all of this, I'm proud that SAVE remained on the frontlines to push back against those who would harm our community, collaborated with LGBTQ+ and allied organizations, and maintained a steady field program to get out the vote and get pro-LGBTQ+ leaders elected into public office.

The Board of Directors has already organized an Executive Search Committee that includes volunteer community members. The position will be posted to SAVE’s website in the near future. If you or anyone you know may be a good fit for the organization, please don’t hesitate to step forward with a nomination. You may reach out to Jennifer Gregg at [email protected] to express your interest or to recommend a candidate.

I look forward to working with you over the next few months and to celebrating with you at SAVE’s Champions of Equality Awards Gala on May 14th. Our 30th Anniversary will be central to that celebration.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] or by phone at 305-968-8522.

Thank you again for all of your support.

Yours in service,

Orlando Gonzales, Executive Director